The illusion of Khun Sa’s political role
He accepted the three conditons of the TRA; Anti the Burmese Government; Anti the Burmese Communist Party; and Anti Narcotics, together with it’s two phased Control and Eradication Program and joined it.
He is currently the Vice Chairman of the TRA, carries the military and financial portfolios.
Now the trafficking stopped.
The move was as dramatic as it was sudden.
TRA’s policy was naturally anti-communist. Now it was explicitly anti-narcotic. Two months later after being the joined forces, the TRA show it’s meant business by ambushing the BCP’s convoy.
The conyoy, enrute through TRA’s controlled territory, carried drugs. Along with 47 kilograms of raw opium and 22 kilograms of haung pi heroin base, the TRA armed troops seized Chinese made weapons and Chinese bank-notes.
The captured red cmmunists guards were part of a 100 men convoy of soldiers. The TRA’s strong base is situated in Maisoong opposite the Thai border village of Pieng Luang, Chieng Dao District.
Various merchants from the Shan State must pay tax here, 26 categories of marchandise on their way through TRA territory are subjected to duty.
Seized drugs have burned down due to anti-narcotics policy.
The 2 forces of the TRA and SUA had been waging war seperately against the Burmese army.
However, tax revenue has dropped as SUA has closed in Khun Sa’s network has encroached on the territory of many factions in the insurgent-ridden state.
Certainly the squeeze is on and the TRA is feeling the pinch.
Economic life-line straddled by the SUA is opening to the interior of the Shan State.
Consequently, Khun Sa has become more than just a troublesome thorn in the side of the TRA.
An economic strangle-hold has, in fect, been placed on it.
