Gandar Mount P.S.O

It is small city on the hill-top in east Mong Su township but a lot of various nationals and tribes are living and striving to get money not only in a short time but also making a massive profit, by hardiness, although it is hazardous to them.

To the mountain city, where the natural ruby stones are dug and sold them as being good business, the merchants or visitors must depend on 4 wheel truck driving about 2 hours along mountainous route from botom of the mountain.

The ruby stones each weight from 2 to 20 carats could be found after diging out for 7 meters or more deeper and about 4 square-meters wide.

Many hard-laborers who risk to do across the country settle down here and try their luck.

The capitalists inclding Chineses, Indians, Burmese, Shans, Wa Army and Thais are waiting to buy alot of ruby stones.

The quality of the ruby is similar to ruby from Pai Lin of Cambodia.

The best ruby in the world is in Moe Goke mine in Burma and it is strictly controlled by the Burmese Junta.

The Junta allows only the Opium King Pins such as Lo Shin Han, Khun Sa and Way Zu Gong who pay revenue to run gem mines.

The alleged Mong Su city has since 1990 been popular with it’s beautiful red-ruby as the ruby-stones were firstly found by the Palawng tribe, who regularly living around the mountain area, during in rainy season.

But later after 1999 the situation in the city had apparently changed into turbulence because of inflowing original Chinese from mother land as in one hand, increasing drugs and weapons trafficking business in the area is on the other hand.

Merchants and capitalists are using the currency of US Dollar, Chinese Yuan and Thai baht only.

No electricity in the mountain-city but some,who are able to bring in a small petrol-engine for electricity from China, have own private electricity.

About 20,000 residents in the city strive to be rich only and also not to live in poverty while the country is being poverty-stricken situation.

Among the smugglers,hundreds of Thai involved in the arms, drugs and gems trafficking are also found in the City.

Thai traffickers, speak Shan and English for business talks (as Thais and Laos can talk to each other by using own language), run between the mountain city and Mae Sai border where their bosses or regular customers or investors are on alert in Takilek because of having better security than in Mae Sai.

For an example, short guns Pistols and Revolvers are being popular in the Ruby-land every body who have a lot of money ordered the guns from the Thai smugglers to use it for self- protection or resold them to others.

The Thai traffickers venture to do both illegal methamphetamine and guns business while they have friendships with the Red Wa Army and Shan Army forces, which had agreed cease-fire with the Burmese Government since 1998, being active around the mountain.

About 4,000 of Shans and Wa soldiers from the both armed groups are depending on these illegal business for their survival as long as they are alloted to base here by their high ranking leaders from Headquarters.

Only the majors and captains from each group command their soldiers and control their high income.

About 1,000 Burmese soldiers whose commanders must be friends with the cease-fire groups depend on the tax-payment from the Wa and Shan as well as from the wealthy Chinese-groups who run gambling dens business and brewery.

Two drug courier are able to carry 10,000 drug-pill, driving motorcycle from the mountain to the Thai border by gungle route.

The drug courier however have to hire the Shan motorcyclist who is familiar with the jungle route to avoid the Burmese security gates setting up for checking passengers who travel by cars and trucks loading with goods.

One amphetamine pill produced and sold by Wa army cost only 30 baht when sold it in border it would cost 100 baht.,the border price. A new revolver cost 40,000
baht and a new pistol coast 50,000 baht.

Both must be USA and Italy made as they preferred to use it than China made.

The used shot guns in good condition are also bought but cheap.

New or used short guns are collected in Mae Sai.

A: Khun Sa was the first man to have been capable to produce the pure white heroin in Asia, the brand name of the product, Double Lions straddling on globe, printed in red colour on plastic-bag which is for a kilogramm. The best quality brand as he kept superb Chemists from Taiwan and Hong Kong. They were highly offered by Khun Sa when the SUA force built its Strongholds in Ma Hin Dek where Khun SA’s Army had recruited young soldiers as well as momentous military equipments.

Q: Did Wa and Gogang groups produce the pure heroin? and did their drug business involve in the Drug trafficking of Khun Sa?

A: The 2 groups currently (in 1980) could not be able to produce good quality of the Heroin. The only 2 things Goang Gang could do were Opium-trade and tonns of collective raw opium in their Go Gang State alone. The Wa group was also did the same but depended Way Xu Gong. Pink colour of Mitzu, No. 3 stage not yet No.4 heroin, was refined by the Go Gang and swiftly sent to Hong Kong to further refine the 3 into 4. Because it could not keep last-long. They were not involved the politics but were named as regional Defence Force by the Burmese Ruler.

Q: Did you know about the work of US. DEA and UN Drug Eradication Program in Burma?
A: We had never had any information of these Agencies. Because they were inactive. The film-makers said, “our ducumentary would be presented to our Australian Authorities to consider prevention of Drugs-flow into the country. Australian people who carried drugs into Penang and Singapore were given Capital Punishment. We had also known that Australia was being one of transitpoints between Vietnam and New York street.”

The Major replied that we knew one of Khun Sa trusted men called him as Ko Nyo who had been staying in Sydney.

Documentry film-makers from Australia risked their lives to go into jungle of the Shan land although there were some risks in every adventure.

They were keen to know about opium growth, opum trade, heroin refineries and who were controlling biggest heroin product-ion in the Shan State? etc.

They however wanted to know most was about Khun Sa and his army, Wa army, Go Gang group and
Nationalist groups revolted against the Burmese Government.

The interview made in evening and 2 hours long.

Major Koan Mong was responsible to answer the questions and said “I’m read to respond frankly to your questions, Go ahead please!”

Q: How your SSA army’s situation currently ?
A: The situation of the SSA was currently in crisis and it was to be considered.

Q: What had really happen to your army ?
A: Our leaders Col. Sam Mong, Divisional Commander, and Col. Pan Aung, Senior financier in the party had been disappeared since in August 1978 in Thai soil. We believed that they were dead. It’s the great lost and it’s also the main reason that the SSA had to be confronted with difficulties. The 2 men had been trusted and highly respected by their subordinates. In the previous days the SSA with 4,000 strengths had been the second strongest force among the revolutionary groups in Burma while the Karin KNDO was the largest Army and being the most revolutionist. We anyway would continue our political movement.

Q: We believed that currently Khun Sa’s Shan United Army holding with modern military equipments was the strongest.How did you think that?
A: Yes it’s sure,but he’s not the politician and his armed force had not been fighting against the Government forces basing through-out Shan State. He had been doing for his own rich which being large involved with heroin trade.

Q: Howmany refinery he had and howmany ton the refinery was capable to produce pure white heroin ,estimatedly, and where did the heroin go?
A: Not less than 5 refineris around the mountainous areas of Loimaw west of Salween river where raw opium was collected as Loimaw was his native place. Vast productive opium- field was also under his strict control. Besides, opium from others merchants and privade collectors in Tang Yan district sold their opium to him. Refined heroin, it’s depending on the demand, had to be stocked as one “massive demanded massive productive”. Escalating heroin activity, from the switch to a biannual harvest by poppy farmers in the Shan State to doubling of heroin addicts in the USA. Accompanies the growing influence of the triads. Throughout much of the 1980s the USA attempted to curb the supply of heroin by providing Burma with millions of US dollars for poppy fields eradication efforts.This had minimal effect, and the US suspended all aid to the Burmese Government because of its brutal supression of a nationwide Democracy movement. Since then, heroin on US street had become more abundant than ever before. That was after Khun Sa moved to Ma Hin Dek, on Thai border of Chieng Rai,1976. According to mutual interests, which had made between Burmese Junta and Khun Sa in April 1973,Khun Sa drew up the six years plan for the control and eradication of opium and opium related crops. It was doubted that the plan was created by the Burmese and the Warlord was urged to do. Khun Sa ,as the opium King, promised to corporate with internation community to fight against narcotic drugs and submitted his six years plan. This was rejected by the Carter Administration on July in the same year.

Q: Had you ever met the opium King before? We would like to know about his Drugs transportion route and his drug gangs abroad including Australia?
A: No,I had never seen him but we as the Political group always observed and detected any armed group active in the Shan State. Therefore we tracked down Khun Sa’s every step.

- More interested Q And A on drug be continued -

Had the trafficking of Heroin alarm Australians?

In 1981, being in crisis situation, the SSA force scattered throughout Shan State and had been trying to survive by recollecting funds, which mostly taxed live-stock, opium, gems, antiques and sandalwood, from various merchandisers who crossed Salween River from west to east bank and continued to Thai borders of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Dao and Mae Sai.

The regrouped SSA soldiers commanded by Major Koan Mong as a breadwinner set tax collecting points in three ferries along east bank of the river, each route of ferry which is major link to the districts borders. The goods made in Thailand were also taxed when its merchants returned homes.

During a month alone hundreds of various traders included Chinese from Go Gang State, Ka Chin State, Shan State, Mo Goke, Mandalay etc, traveling by on foot and horses, using them as goods carriers, to the Thai border while Salween river was the main interim of the long journey.

The trip between the river and the border spent about 3 days if no harassment on the way.

Sometime Burmese armed troops robbed merchants while they were on patrol, fighting between armed drug-trafficking groups and the Burmese patrolled forces were also often busted out in mountainous ares as well.

The Burmese soldiers, when they are in the jungle, were accused as the robbers.

They might have been instructed by their big master in the Regiment.

Three Austrians, the Film-makers of Documentary which was said to have concerned with “Drugs and Politics” in Shan State of Burma, arrived in east Salween River to meet the SSA members by crossing Mae Hong Son border.

They only said they were from Australia and had contacted UPI (Unite Press International) based in Bangkok to be here.

They firstly met the SSA’s liaison officer in Mae Hong Son and then moved forwards to the river escorted by Shan guards.

They stayed there for 4 days to take pictures of various travelers and mule-caravan moving across west bank to east bank of the river.

The three in fact wished to go inner-most of the battle fields and opium-grow in central Shan State, if they had an opportunity, as hoped to record on exchanged fires between rebels and Burmese.

SSA could could not guarantee for their safety.

Interested interview had conducted, is it true that Australia is being transit- point of Drug trafficking?

—be continued—

The Shan soldiers, in a dilema, had to make a decisive answer for their future after being no return of their leaders.

Synchronously, some returned to the strongholds in the northern Shan State while others joined the SURA (Shan United Revolution Army) headed by Moe Haing.

The news of brutal assasination of the three behaved by Fa Lung and Khun Sa had to be concealed as could as poosible to save their dignity.

The murder of the three might not satisfy the Burmese Military Ruler so that Khun Sa must carry on the killing.

The top leaders and high-ranking officers active in the SSA’s political wing and military-operation commanders were to be slain.

To carry out this assignment, Khun Sa needed more time to have a good chance for his gunmen who stand up to the enemy and are involed with gun-running as well.

Khun Sa had many chances to fatally shoot the SSA member one by one after the SSA was seperated into four groups.

(1) Group led by Col.Soe Tent made cease-fire with the Government, (2) Group headed by Col.Sam Mai joined Moe Haing’s SURA force, (3) Group of High-Ranking politicians included Sao Boon Dai, Sao Wai, Khun Jar Nu, Sao Seng Han and Soe Zung, all were not only highly educated from Rangoon University but also well talking in English, retired and stayed in Chiang Mai and, (4) Group being the armed soldiers under command of Col.Sai Lek continued armed struggle around Namp Kham and Mu Se aeras closed China border.

Another one, also important in the Shan Revolution Council and Commander in chief, was Sao Soe Leant, graduated in Political Science, with his wife and 5 children surrendered to the Government because of disappointed with disunity in the party as well as its influence had been diminished.

As the members in the Shan group were separated and staying in different places.

Therefore they were the target of shooting and coincidently the victims were negligent in assasination disposed by Khun Sa.

The consecutive assasination carried on in Chieng Mai as Shan leaders were shot down in different ocasions one by one.

The dead were Soe Zung, Sao Seng Han and Sao Boon Dai.

—– Related story to be continued —–

The Burmese Communist led a group of 700 Wa soldier was only moving around the south and southeastern areas of Keng Tong District linking with the Wa state and China border.

The Wa soldiers were inactive because of inadequate foods as well as become discouraged.

The Shan villagers did not accept the Communists and disliked the Red Wa troops as they were ruthless-tribe.

The Communists spent about 2 years in the SSA strongholds but failed to move towards to central Burma due to Chinese’s initial plan that was the urgency of political inspiration.

In the long run, the Chinese terminated its annual support to the Communist and the Wa troops retreated to their original territory while the Burmese politburo returned to China soil.

The Burma Communist Party (BCP) was completely defunct in 1973.

Its former top politburo included Tha Khin Ba Thein Tin, Tha Khin Tin, Tha Khin Than Thun, Tha Kin Mya and Gen. Kyaw Zaw sought asylum in China.

The Shan mission headed by Col. Sam Mong visited Chinese autorities in Kunmin City to receive arms and military weapons.

Col. Sam Mong was most wanted by the Burmese Government as he was rumored as being the ShanCommunist and strongman in the SSA army.

He was also known as military planner as well as a good leading fighter in his position of Divisional Commander.

The Burmese Regiments from the regional commands launched a continuous series attack on SSA’s strongholds bases in the north and central areas.

SSA suffered heavy causuality in the series bombard by the enemy.

Burmese also suffered dead and wounded in close-range ambushed by Shan guerillas.

The guerillas made prompt attacks on the Burmese troops while on patrol at dawn and the army trucks loaded on the soldiers in jungle routes following a swift change of plans.

The Burmese’s attempt failed to capture Col. Sam Mong. Later on, the Burmese had contacted Khun Sa for the murder of Strong-man am Mong.

— related story will be continued —

The Shan State Army (SSA) in between 1967-1976 had been the strongest force among the rebellion groups such as Burmese Communist Party, Ka Chin, Ka Ren Ni, Pao,Pa -Long, La Hu, Ka Yarn, Arican, Chin, Nar Ga, Wa (not the red Wa joined the Burmese Communists) and Mon, all of which are longstanding fighting for the freedom.

But the SSA compare with Ka Ren force KNU was smaller.

The KNU’ strengths were about 6000 while the SSA has only 3000 soldiers with arms.

The foregoing KNU had more military experience in the longrun fightings with the Government military invasions.

The military strongholds of the Shans in the northern, southern areas and Central Shan State were steadfast,but leaved out the eastern because there were many Mafia-like terrorist forces involved drugs trade were active.

The SSA soldiers had been able to take away many military equipments including M 16 rifles by frequent assaulted on the Burmese outpost-camps.

The SSA had financial problem to buy arms.

Numerous fightings between the Burmese and Shans bursted out throughout the year as the Shan force was believed to have been the Shan Communists being backed by the Chinese.

Infact, the SSA did not accept the Communist System but accepted the Chinese’s aid.

The Chinese, in order to support the longstanding Shan Nationalists being fought for the freedom, provided 2000 arms included pistols and M 21 assault-rifles to the Shan army.

Before received the arms, the Shan learders visited China as respecting to invitation of the Chinese authorities.

They were warm welcomed.

Chinese made huge military weapons were also shown up as a knowledge for useful to battle.

The Chinese at that time had no good relations with the Burmese tried to recruit the Burmese Communisti’strength.

What the Chinese was that let the communist party stay in the SSA.

The Shan State Army (SSA), which has been struggling for Shan Freedom as long as over 30 years, suffered from total lost by its miscount that providing assistances to Khun Sa and Lo Shin Han when they fled to SSA strongholds for temporarily shelter. (Following to stories of Khun Sa and Lo Shin Han)

Khun Sa and Lo Sin Han both of them were in anyway forced to tell the truth of the SSA’s strengths, arms, military equipments, etc and the strongholds’s whereabouts to the Burmese Junta.

The Burmese army had frequently launched out an attack the SSA’s longstanding strongholds and headquarters in the north and central State.

The strenth of 1500 with full arms from the strongholds and outposts seperatedly posed to attack the Burmese invaders.

Heavy fighting and Skirmish between the SSA rebells and the Gonernment had to be occurred when the Burmese military operations moved in on the SSA’s vast controlled areas.

The situation around the battle fields in north,south and central state had become quiet when the villagers fled to towns while some fled toThai border.

The villagers uncocerned with the politics had to be questioned and tortured by the Burmese soldiers.

Some villagers were died from gun shots during exanged fires.

Livestocks were also killed for foods.

Young women were raped.

Tens of thousands of houses left behind were burnt down.

This had been the burdensome for them.

STEVEN LO AND WIFE CECILIA NG

CECILIA NG

LO SHIN MIN                            GEN. KHIN NYUNT

CHINESE TEMPLE IN LASHIO

The Go Gang Force of drug running headed by Lo Shin Han and the Khun Sa’s drug trafficking force had been once engaged strongly in mid 1973.

The heavy fighting bursted out when the Khun Sa’ soldiers promptly ambushed the Go Gang armed troops of goods transportaion from the Thai border of Mae Hong Son.

About 50 horses, on back of which goods included textiles, shoes, clothes, electrical appliances and radio- cassettes are loaded, guarded by about 100 armed Go Gang Chineses tried to escape the stormed fires from battle field as they did not want to lose their belongings.

The strong exchanged fires spent almost 3 days in which Go Gang group suffered heavy casualities.

Ten horses with loaded goods left behind were seized by 800 strentgh of Khun Sa’s force, it was initially SUA (Shan United Army), differently basing around mountainous areas strategically under control by the strong Shan State Army (SSA), the real Nationalist group.

Khun Sa’s force headed by Fa Lung and Khun Seng fled to SSA’s area for shelter after being Khun Sa was arrested by the Burmese Ruler on 17 October 1969.

He was in jail for 6 years and outside jail under training of Burmese Military Intelligence Service for over a year.

He was later said to have signed an agreement of Mutual interests with the Burmese Junta.

After Khun Sa was released on 7 Februay 1976, his force was swiftly moved to Ma Hin Dek border of Chiang Rai in ordre to build the SUA Headquaters where Khun Sa was able to reinfoce his army and had become strong Army in a shot time.

Khun Sa’s armed force which attacks Go Gang defence force was angered Lo Shin Han.

The Go Gang Boss at that time confronting with serious crisis that the Burmese Govrnment had isued an urgent ordered to capture him and his family and to eradicate his opium trade with Ku Ming Tong and its Burmese Commnistally.

Therefore the way he could do is run away.He also fled to SSA.

British Documentry film-maker Adrian Cowel had apportunity to record the fightings.

Consequently, both drug lords, the long time bitter enemies, have become friends in Burma.

Gen.Khin Nyunt was the peace maker.

The General at that time was dubbed as TV star but said anti Gen.Moung Aye who prefers “the rebels must surrender, no talk for cease-fire to them.”

Gen.Khin Nyunt understood Lo Sin Han well as the man of Businese like and internationalist due to his yearslong experience in various trades and corporations.

Therefore Khin Nyunt raised him and opened links to world-trade internationaly while he is being the big Boss of Chinese association in La Shio, Mu Se, Koon Long of northern Shan State and Mandalay, Rangoon.

Lo Shin Han is believed to have widely controlled the shareholders whose finacial status is not onlyhigh-grade but not at stake.

Since the time of Military Government led by Gen.Than Shwe, Gen.Mong Aye and Gen.Khin Nyunt had suffered seriously for lack of money so that they had to depend on Druglords to raise annual revenue.

Gen.Khin Nyunt therefore was responsible for State revenue.

Kin Nyunt, as the Stateman, was the key role for good relationships of trade corporation between Lo Shin Han and the Singapore’s leading traders.

Later after MTA’s surrender, Khin Nyunt made a reunion for good freindships between Khun Sa and Lo Shin Han who have been bitter rivals for a long time in the Drugs trafficking.

Khun Sa and Lo Shin Han were anyway urged to support the Junta’s annual revenue.

Lo Shin Han and Khun Sa are the ownerships of Ruby mine in Mo Gok situated in Shan and Burmese border, about 150 miles northwest of Mandalay, and Gade mine in Phar-Garng of Myit Gyi Na, the City of Kachin state.

Besides, both opium lords are involved with the thousands of tonns of timber exported to China.

Ruby and Gade are trasported to America through Singapore, Hongkong and Japan.

The Gems trade is one of the most lucrative sources of profit for the Burmese Rulers.

The Ruler has been contrlling theUnion of Burma Economic Holdings Limited and Burma Economic Corporation, to which Lo Shin Han and Khun Sa sold their jade and rubies, both are involved in the gem trade, banking and costruction directly and through sudsidiaries.

Singapore has also become a major player in Asia trade and strong role in World Trade Organization.