June 18, 2004: "Three ethnic armed groups monopolized buying bamboo-shoot this year in Three Pagoda Pass area, opposite of Thailand?s Kanchanburi Province, according to Ms. Mi Mor a former bamboo shoot trader said. ?New Mon State Party, Karen National Union and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (which base in the area) forbid the former bamboo shoot traders to buy bamboo-shoot this year and the armed groups will do buying with their own arrangment today,” Ms. Mor added..."