DKBA declares Myawaddy Township a drug free zone
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 Karen News.
“We agreed with local resident to outlaw all drug activities in areas under our control. We all agree to declare the area as drug free zones”.
The KKO gave permission to village heads to arrest drug users, drug buyers and drug sellers in each village. Village heads agreed to hand the drug offenders over to KKO.
The village heads told the meeting that they were concerned that there are drug users in townships in the Palu and Wawlay areas. The meeting said that they wanted to cooperate and to work with NGOs on anti-drugs campaigns, including education and health care.
The KKO released their drug ban statement on May 18 and said that they KKO will cooperate with drug eradication agencies. The KKO wants drug production, drug selling in the Karen state banned.
Saw Gon Aung told Karen News that education anti-drug programs would start in June.
The anti-drug meeting follows a Thai government announcement on April 20, that the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) led by Deputy Prime Minister, Chalerm Yubumrung was offering 12 million baht (US $388,000) reward for the capture of 25 of the country’s most-wanted drug dealers including the KKO’s, General Saw Ler Pwe, listed with 1 million baht reward for his capture.
