Drugs

The Kachin Women’s Association Thailand, a community based human rights organisation, has claimed that the Burma Army and government backed militias are enabling a drug crisis in Kachin State. “Where the Burma Army has seized former Kachin Independence Army territories, it has allowed its allies to expand control over these areas. Overturning KIA anti-drug policies which had limited poppy cultivation,…

Police in Kawkareik Town, Karen State have arrested three people on suspicions of drug dealing. The suspects, one man and two women, were arrested for allegedly selling methamphetamine pills, also known as ‘ya ma’. Police Chief Aung Oo from the Special Anti-narcotic Force in Kawkareik Township told Karen News that the three arrested were identified as U Than Naing, who…

The Karen National Union (KNU) has increased its efforts to destroy marijuana plantations and the selling of illegal drugs by villagers in northern Karen State. A spokesperson from the KNU’s Mutraw District office spoke to Karen News about the drug busting campaign. The KNU spokesperson explained that that the Mutraw District office has ordered local officials to search and eliminate…

A local woman from T’Nay Hsah Township killed by villager who reportedly used amphetamines that were manufactured and distributed by commander of Border Guard Battalion 1016. A report by the community-based human rights organisation, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) has documented the rape and murder of a Pa’an woman. The 21-year-old woman was reportedly killed by a 23-year-old man…

The DKBA’s political wing, Klohtoobaw Karen Organization (KKO), has declared all areas in Myawaddy Township under their control as drug free zones. The KKO met with 25 village heads and as many as 50 village representatives at their headquarter, Kaw Thu Mwe Kee, to discussed anti-drug activities and announce the drug free zones. Saw Gon Aung, KKO general secretary told…

Democratic Karen Buddhist Army leader, held a press conference for Thai and Burmese journalists on May 1 to hit back at accusations made by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Chalerm Yubumrung, that he is a major drug dealer. The Thai deputy prime minister made the claims on Thai television on April 20. An annoyed Brigadier General Saw Ler Pwe claims he…

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army released a statement defending their Commander-in-Chief Brigadier, General Saw Ler Pwe, who was listed on a most-wanted list of drug traffickers this week by the Thai government’s Narcotics Control Board. Karen News is led to understand the DKBA leader, Brigadier General Saw Ler Pwe (also known as Na Khan Mwe), is furious at the Thai…

The Palaung Women Organization, estimate in their recent report that opium cultivation and production in northern Shan State this year will double that of previous years. The PWO report ‘Still Poisoned’ released in October this year noted that under the current government, opium cultivation in Namkham Township in northern Shan State has doubled that of crops produced in 2009. Lway…