Description:
"With unique access and information
from the ground, the Lahu National
Development Organisation (LNDO)
examines in this report how the
Burma Army benefi ts directly from
the drug trade in eastern Shan State.
The
findings show how conflict
and drug production in Burma are
inextricably linked, and that only a
political resolution of the decades-
long ethnic conflict will enable
Burma?s drug crisis to be addressed.
Despite ceasefires, the central
government?s refusal to cede to
ethnic demands for federalism has
caused a steady military build-up by
both the Burma Army and ethnic
armed groups in eastern Shan
State. Over the past ten years, the
number of Burma Army troops
in seven eastern Shan townships
has risen from over 10,000 to over
14,000. Significantly for the drug
trade, this includes a substantial
increase in the number of Burma
Army militia troops—from about
2,300 to 3,400—who serve the vital
purpose of maintaining central
government control over inaccessible
mountainous areas.
The Burma Army militia-controlled
areas are where most opium in
eastern Shan State is being grown,
as shown by maps of the United
Nations Offce of Drugs and Crime
(UNODC). These areas are also
where scores of drug refineries that
produce large amounts of heroin
and methamphetamines (?yaba”)
are located.
The Burma Army militia groups
provide security to the drug
syndicates operating the refineries.
In the process they make huge
profits from buying opium from
farmers and selling it to refinery
owners, from joint investments in
refineries, and from transporting
drugs to distributors. These profits
not only subsidize the upkeep of
the militia forces, but enable militia
leaders to gain substantial personal
wealth. This is a key incentive to
remain loyal to the Burma Army,
and to continue their policing duty
against ethnic resistance groups..."
Source/publisher:
Lahu National Development Organisation (LNDO)
Date of Publication:
2016-10-27
Date of entry:
2016-10-28
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)