Gandar Mount P.S.O

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 —–

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.”

Fa Lung alias Chang Shi Shwen and Khun Seng alias Ronal, closests aides of Khun Sa, are important persons in any case.

They have respectfully been working for the aim of the boss.

Fa Lung used to be the military advisor to Burmese Army commander in chief.

Both have to be successors to carry on the party’s business with massive financial ties to Singapore as Khun Sa had been Burma’s top investor.

Singapore is more than willing to share the drug lords.

Burmese and Singapore level work committee was formed in 1993 to increase mutual interests.

Gen. Khin Nyunt headed the Burmese committee.

Singapore’s investment in Burma is opening door for the drug dealers and giving them access to banks and financial system.

Attentions around the world currently focuse on Burma’s situation after being dead of warlord.

Khun Sa and Lo Sing Han were the key performers in the Burmese economy.

Both had been successful business men in Burma.

The Wa force not long after the MTA surrendered had moved to Mong Mai base to control boder area independenly.

Two rich Chineses, Lao Dai and Charle ,involed heroin trade and longtime Khun Sa’s trusted assistants were captured by US DEA in Mae Sai.

The two men left behind and continued to stay in Ta Ki Lek city had been taken to America.

This news bade Khun SA unhappy.

The old-age Moe Haing died of diesease in mid 1995 (unknown date of his death) at his Mai Soong Headquarters has been suffering from depression and seriously stress for long time as his Shan patriotic fighters are under pressure of the Chinese army officers who obey the order of Fa Lung.

Moreover,he has been shocked when he was reported about the assassination of his men in frontlines.

But he has not been able to protect them even being the Chairman of the MTA.

He was given 5 million Bhat by Khun Sa, who needs Moe Haing and his senior politicians not to be involved with the MTA military affair, after being signed for the United Forces of the both sides.

Shortly after Moe Haing died, about 300 Shan soldiers under leadership of Maj Yod Suek brokeaway from the joined MTA Force and named his force as Shan United Revolution Army (SURA).

Maj Gun Yod called his force Shan State National Army (SSNA) as 300 Shan troops with full arms are under his command.

The 2 commanders built their bases in different areas and resurrected the prior intention that fighting for freedom.

The 2 Nationalists leaders as being the seperationists and never under the Chinesa commanders since the confederation have been trying to repulse the Chinese Haw army commando for drug-trafficking, who are doudted to have killed the Shan soldiers icluding captains (reported to be more than 100), and forcing them back to border to report their Bosses as the situation has changed.

There are about1,000 Chinese,some of them are sent to Taiwan for military training inorder to serve Khun Sa’s army and about 6,000 Shan troops originally basing in Mahindek borders with Chieng Rai to control drug business and to attack the KMT and the BCP but no aim for Shan autonomy.

Because of this, the Burmese army had never made any military raid in his border base.

The burmese instead raided the Karen Nibase in Mae Hong Son border and the strong base of Karin (KNUP) opposite Mae Sarieng border.

The both bases have decisively been attacked by the Burmese every dried season.

But Khun Sa’s Army has been attacked by the Thai army frequently as 40 times because of his notorious Opium-King.

He was accused to produce heroin and controlling the refinerry bases linking to the border ariea by Thai anti-drug officials.

Thailand is known as transit point of drug transportation to West.

Khun Sa resurges as to gain image of National Patriot, he joined Moe Haing.

(related story will be continued)

In early January 1996 Khun Sa led his MTA army surrender to the Burmese after conntected Burmese Gen. Mong Aye, the second poweful in the Government after the Gen. Than Shwe, through Gen. Thein Sein who is trusted by Gen. Mong Aye and the right-hand man as well basing in Keng Tong, the Eastern Commander.

Khun Sa is informed to provide facility for security and safety by the Generals.

Tow or three days after the both sides negotiated on peace, Khun Sa, Fa Lung and Khun Seng, the top lerders of the MTA, were lifted by Military helicopter from the Ho Mong Headquarters and leaving for Rangoon.

Huge stockpile of military equipments and weapons were confiscated by the Burmese Army officials from the Eastern Command.

Hundreds of Burmese soldiers had spent for a week to check the situation of the Headquarters and the thousands of young Shan soldiers who were later sent to Taunggyi, the City of the Southern Shan State, for further negotiation.

But some of them mostly Chnese Haw and section commanders involved the drugs trafficking refused
to surrender and regrouped themselves into new group with well armed for further doing drugs business.

Also a large number of Shan nationalist-fighters commanded by Major Gun Yod is one group while another group is under leaderhip of Major Yod Suek refused to surrender their arms.

The armed gruop headed by Gun Yod is named as Shan State National Army (SSNA) and the other leading by Major Yud Suek later to be called the Shan United Revolution Army (SURA) continued further fightings against the Burmese invasion.

These breakaway Shan troops moved to the north by crossing Salween River to tie relationship with the other Natinalist groups as freedomly.

During marching to the north Shan State in late January 1996, the breakaway groups had been blocked and attacked by the Burmeses many times. The both sides suffered casualties.

(Worse Sitution in MTA Before the Surrender will be continued)

Fa Lung (Chang Shi Swen), the military in chief and powerful commander in the MTA.

Khun Seng is financial contrller and major management in drugs trading business while Khun Sa himself playing in Political role which is apparently illusive movement of the opium warlord.

All of these men are the ruthless.

There had been many internal management problems since the joined hands merged and the Shan army commanders of the TRA who against the Chinese’s leading unfair policy were fatally killed by gunshot. The killing mostly conducted in the fightings betwen TRA and Burmese, between Wa and TRA,between TRA and Lahu force.

The numerous balltles broke out across the south and east of the Shan State.

The kill behind motive is to root up the hero Shan fighters and real Nationalists struggling for the Freedom as to approve the good relationships between Burmese Government and Khun Sa.

The Shans have lost their lives with meaningless.

However, the drug business of Khun Sa is gainful as he had high aspirations.

In 1987 to 1993 opium production in the Shan State alone is 750 tonns annually and the region is responsible for roughly 50 tonns of heroin.

The whole-sale value of the drug would then be well over US 2 billion dollar.

Therefore, Khun Sa is able to collect well arms and thousands of ammunition and highly powerful equipments for military operation which have been stimulate him to extend influence along the Thai border linking to borders of Lao and China by built strong bases.

Khun Sa has achived his strong will and is smart to build his own empire with hardship of struggle.
But his wrong doing of killing the Shan comrades make him to lose his empire promptly when the patriotic Shan soldiers recuperate and resurrect their forces from the joit-force MTA after being the death of More Haing.

(MORE TO BE CONTINUED)

Failure to establish permanent bases in the Shan territoy and Thai border areas, the KMT determined to inform Burmese leaders through courriers and contacts that foreign ruler would be overthrown by force of Khun Sa.

The Burmese believed it and invited Khun Sa.

Khun Sa arrived in Taunggyi on 17 October 1969 to attend a special meeting.

On October 20 he was arrested and sent him to Mandalay preson for 5 years in alone cell with no body to talk to, only acopy of the famous story of “Romance of the 3 Kingdoms”.

It was nevertheless worth it, he said, because he was able to make a thorough review of the Shan situation and formulate plans for the future plans for the future.

Meanwhile his troops had not been idle. Most of them, being timely alerted, swiftly joined hands with the Shan State Army (SSA) led by Commander in chief Gen. Soe Laen and Divisional Commander Col. Sam Mong.

This Shan army is realy Revolution against the Burmese Government for decades, but defuncted in 1989 (the full story of The SSA will be continued ).

Khun SA’s army then led by the able and loyal Gen.

Chang Shi Suan, “Fa Lung” his chief of staff.

It was he who received the daring plan to kidnap two Russian doctors working in Taunggyi, the City of the south Shan State, to hold as hostage in exchange for the return of their leader.

The Russians were abducted on 16 April 1973 in Taunggyi and held in the jungle.

They were freed in Thailand after diplomatic hurdles had been cleared away.

Khun Sa was released on 7 September following the year, but not allowed to involve political movment.

In Mandaly, he had acted as a ordinary people for more than a year under military authorities’s watchful.

He managed to escape on 7 Feb, 1976 and was able to rejoin his men. He based in Ma Hin Tak later that year and drew up the six year plan for the control and eradication of opium and opium related crops.