Archive for the ‘UPI’ tag
The photos above are shown as the Australians film-makers busy !
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—
