Opium is Overtaken by a Popular, Pink Pill

Drug Report 2015

By

Shan Herald Agency for News

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Photo:  SHAN                Poppy  field  in  Shan  State.  

Opium  is  overtaken  by  a  popular,  pink  pill  

June  26,  2015  marks  this  year’s  International  Day  against  Drug  Abuse  and  Illicit  Trafficking  which  was  created  to  stop  the  production  and  distribution  of  drugs.    Yet,   with   this   day   around   the   corner,   the   drug   situation   in   Shan   state   is  worsening.  Who  is  to  blame  for  the  ongoing  drug  production  and  distribution  in  Shan  state?    Who  is  causing  this  nation  of  addicts?    According  to  annual  report  from  the  United  Nations,  Shan  State  is  the  second  largest  opium  producer   in  the  world.    Of  the  55  townships  within  Shan  state,  almost  no  township  is  without  its  own  source  of  opium  production.      

During  the  2014-­‐2015  seasons,  the  farmers  had  difficulty  producing  their  usual  supply  of  opium  crops.    One  reason  for  this  was  the  recent  climate  change.    In  addition,   fighting   and   conflict   in   the   area   and   decrease   in   market   price  rendered  them  unable  to  sell  the  raw  product  as  they  had  done  in  the  past.  

As  a   result,  people  are  now   looking   for  alternative  solutions   to  make  money.    Growers   have   turned   to   making   the   popular,   little,   pink   pill:  methamphetamine.      

In   the   communities,  methamphetamines  have  become   so   commonplace   that  people  are  using  them  as  a  form  of  payment  for  services.    Even  in  ceremonies,  these  pretty  pink  pills  are  served  to  the  attendees  in  their  beverages.  

 

Opium  Farming  in  Shan  State  

Shan   State   is   comprised   of   55   townships   and   29   sub-­‐townships.     Of   the   55  townships,  4  are  under  the  control  of  United  Wa  State  Army  (UWSA):  Pangwai,  

Narpan,   Mongmai   and  Panghsang  and  1   is  under  the  National   Democratic   Alliance  Army   (NDAA)  with   its   base   in  Mongla.  

Even   though   it   is   illegal   to  plant   opium   in   Burma,   each  district  in  Shan  state  has  seen  an   increase   in   the   drug   trade  

over  the  past  year.    Although  there  were  more  poppy  fields  in  2014-­‐2015,  the  

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amount  produced  was  low.    This  is  due  to  severe  weather  conditions  affecting  the  whole  state  in  the  past  year.  

 

The  Price  of  Opium  

In   the   past,   the   price   of  opium   has   never   dropped  below  800,000  Kyats.     Yet,  last   year   the   price   was  unexpectedly   scaled   down  to   450,000   Kyats.   One   of  the   causes   for   this   drop   is  the   ongoing   fighting   in  northern   Shan   State.    Opium   traders  were   afraid  to  go  into  those  areas;  as  a  

result,  many   traders  were  unable  to  purchase  opium  

from  the  farm.  Despite  last  year’s  low  price,  it  was  still  not  easy  for  the  farmers  to  sell  their  product.    Many  of  them  ended  up  heading  to  the  border  in  order  to  make  a  sale.    

The   cost   of   opium   in   some   areas   has   dropped   even   lower.     For   example,  townships   like   Tangyan,   Monghsu,   Lashio,   Hsipaw,   Kyaukme,   Namtu,   and  Hsenwi  had  to  decrease  their  price  to  300,000  Kayts  per  viss.    Only  Nam  Mu  Se  was   able   to   sell   their   opium   for   little   more   than   half   the   normal   price   at  450,000  Kyats.    

The   farmers   in   the   areas   controlled   by  militia   groups   seemed   to   have   fared  better   than   others   in   this   economic   downturn;   this   is   due   to   the   fact   that  soldiers  often  brought  them  customers.    The  ethnic  armed  groups  or  even  the  government   military   got   involved   in   the   trade   by   assisting   merchants   who  wanted  to  buy  opium  directly  from  the  farmers.  

 

 

 

Photo:  SHAN                farmers  collect  raw  opium    

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Opium  Farmers  Seek  a  New  Career  in  Pill  Making  

While  the  opium  market  is  producing  low  returns,  the  investment  of  time  and  money  for  the  farmers  is  high.      

One  opium  farmer  recently  stated,  “We  do  not  want  to  work  on  the  farm.  We  have  decided  that  we  will  not  plant  this  coming  year  because  our  investment  is  high   but   the   selling   market   is   difficult.   Nowadays,   1,000,000   Kyats   is   not  enough  to  sustain  a  farm.  When  we  invest  for  1,000,000  Kyats,  for  example,  it  is   impossible   to   make   2,000,000   Kyats   in   return.   Moreover,   the   traders   no  longer  come  and  buy  it  from  the  farm.”  

“Many   people   said   if  we   have   200,000   kyats,  we   can   invest   it   in  making   the  methamphetamine  pill  and  we  will  get  400,000  Kyats.    This  is  cheaper  and  not  as   tiring   to   produce.   Therefore,   we   will   stop   opium   farming   and   switch   to  methamphetamine  production”.  

 

 

Methamphetamine  is  Easy  to  Produce  

There   is   a   lot   of   equipment   involved   in   the   complicated   process   of   making  opium.    To  produce  opium  a  lot  of  space  is  needed,  as  well  as  tight  security.  On  the  other  hand,  methamphetamines  can  be  produced  by  fewer  people  and  the  

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necessary  equipment  is  widely  available.  For  example,  it  is  often  produced  in  a  minivan  on  the  side  of  the  road.    Most  of  the  time,  this   is  done  by   influential  and  powerful  members  of  the  community.  

 

The  Methamphetamine  Market  

Everywhere   in   Shan   State,   from   small   villages   in   rural   areas   to   populated  suburbs  and   in  big   cities,  methamphetamine  pills   are  available.     They   can  be  bought   on   any   street   corner.   For   instance,   there   is   a   street   specifically  designated   to   drug   sellers   and   users   in   Lashio   Township.     Here   one   can   find  vendors   that   offer   drugs   to   be   consumed   on   the   spot.     A   buyer   can   buy   a  portion   of   a   pill   for   a  mere   500   Kyat   and   then   is   given   a   lighter   and   all   the  materials  he  needs  to  smoke  it  right  there.      

Within   Shan’s  methamphetamine  

market,   the   price  and   quality   of   the  pill   varies   greatly.    For   example,   for   a  relatively  low  quality  pill   a   buyer   can  spend   as   little   as  1,500   Kyats.     If   the  buyer  wants  a  better  quality   high,   he   can  purchase   a   pill   for  anywhere   between  1,500   Kyats   and  2,500  Kyats,  with  the  highest   quality   pill  selling   for   about  

3,000  Kyats.    In  some  townships,  like  Namtu,  Monghsu,  Mongkerng,  Laikha  and  Lashio,  the  pill  is  only  500  Kyats,  making  it  much  cheaper  than  opium.  

 

 

Photo:  LNG  Teenagers  in  Lashio  Township  are  consuming  drug  along  the  street.  

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The  Government’s  Involvement  with  Methamphetamine  Production  

For  the  average  resident  involved  in  methamphetamine  sales,  it  is  difficult  for  him   to   become   successful   in   developing   his   business.     This   is   due   to   the  likelihood  of  being  caught  by  law  enforcement  and  thrown  in  jail.    However,  for  the   lucky   salesman   who   has   good   connections   to   certain   politicians   and  military  officials,   business   can   soar.      While  ethnic   groups  who  hold  a   stance  against  the  military  can  be  arrested  for  drug  production  and  trafficking,  those  more  fortunate  groups  siding  with  the  military  officials  seem  to  have   it  much  easier  in  growing  their  business.    

Before   the   RCSS/SSA   (Restoration   Council   of   Shan   State/Shan   State   Army)  concluded  a  ceasefire  agreement  with  the  government,  they  had  been  accused  of  being  involved  with  drug  production.    Now  they  are  not.    Another  example  is  that   of   the  Wa   group.     These   people  made   a   ceasefire   agreement   with   the  government  26   years   ago,   yet   recently  have   requested   to  become   their   own  state,   no   longer   under   the   government’s   control.     Now   this   ethnic   group   is  being  accused  of  drug  trafficking.      

Most  of  the  current  drug  production  in  Shan  state  happens  under  government  military  control.  

 

The  Drug  Eradication  Plan:  The  Next  Five  Years  

In  1999,   the  government  created  an   initiative   to  eradicate  drugs   from  Burma  within  15  years.    The  plan  included  51  townships:  43  in  Shan  state,  4  in  Kachin  state,   2   in  Karenni   state   and  2   in  Chin   state.   In   Shan   state  5   townships  have  reported   that   there   is   no   longer   drug   production   taking   place   within   their  borders.    However,  there  are  still  39  townships  remaining   in  the   initiative,  16  of  which   include   the   areas  with   the   largest   opium  production.     The  plan  has  proven   unsuccessful   thus   far   as   there   has   seemingly   been   little   progress   in  drug   eradication,   so   the   government   has   extended   the   plan   for   the   next   5  years.    

UNODC  (United  Nations  Office  on  Drugs  and  Crime)  has  urged  citizens  to  begin  growing   seasonal   crops   instead  of   opium,   yet   officials   have  never   visited   the  areas,  rendering  them  uninformed  about  the  conditions  of  these  locations  and  their  ability  to  produce  such  plants.      

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Does  Shan  State  Still  Have  a  Drug  Lord?  

During  the  time  when  Khun  Sa  was   leading  the  Shanland  United  Army  (SUA),  there   were   few,   if   any,   restrictions   regarding   opium   production   and   sales.    After  Khunsar  joined  with  Sao  Korn  Zerng  and  set  up  the  Mong  Tai  Army,  they  declared  Shan  state  independent.    The  government  then  claimed  that  Khun  Sa  was   a   drug   lord   and   was   able   to   get   the   U.S.’s   assistance   in   capturing   him.    Afterwards,   Khun   Sa   stepped   down   from   power   and   surrendered   to   the  Burmese   government,   giving   them   all   the   weapons   he   and   his   troops   had  obtained  throughout  the  years.      

In  2013,  Sai  Naw  Kham,  a  man  from  Shan  state,  was  also  blamed  for  being  a  drug   lord  within   the  Golden   Triangle.     He  was   arrested   by   the   authorities   of  Laos  and  was  then  taken  to  China  to  be  executed.    Although  he  was  a  Burmese  citizen,  Burma  never  intervened.  

Despite  the  execution  of  Sai  Naw  Kham  and  the  surrender  of  Khun  Sa,  the  drug  production  in  Shan  state  has  continued  to  be  a  large  source  of  revenue.    Many  people   believe   that   the   ethnic   armed   groups   especially   the   government  controlled   militias   and   politicians   are   the   drug   lords   of   today   due   to   their  rumored  involvement  in  the  production  and  sales  in  Shan  state’s  borders.          

 

Government  Authorities’  Direct  Involvement  in  Drug  Situation  

On   the  23rd   of   January  2015,   a   team  of  Nam  Kham   residents,  who   served  as  undercover   security   guards   for   the   community,   caught   and   arrested   a   police  officer  who  was   selling   drugs   “in   order   to   help   his   family”.       Another   similar  

instance   happened   in  Monghsu   Township,  when   a   high   ranking  official   of   MAS   (Military  Affairs  Security)  got   into  a   physical   altercation  with   a   villager   after  

consuming  methamphetamines.  

The  official  was   stabbed  with  a  knife,  leaving  him  with   30   knife   wounds.    Photo:  SHAN    Police  were  arrested  for  drug  possession  

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Many  of  these  high  ranking  officials  get  involved  in  the  drug  trade  to  become  wealthy.    

 

Drugs  Cause  Family  feuds  

On  May  12,  2015,  Aik  Sai,  a  36  year  old  man  from  Wanloi  village  in  Larngkhur  Township,   took   methamphetamines   and   then   stabbed   his   father   and   his  younger   brother   with   a   knife.   His   brother   died   immediately   at   the   scene.   A  similar   case   happened   on   March   29,   2015   in   Tangyan   Township   when   Sai  Maunggyi,  who   had   earlier   consumed  methamphetamines,   stabbed   his  wife.  She  died  immediately.  He  then  attempted  to  kill  his  son  and  his  father-­‐in-­‐law,  but  fortunately  neighbors  intervened.  Sai  Maunggyi  resorted  to  suicide.  

 

Citizens  Unite  to  Prevent  Drug  Trafficking  

The  government  set  up  the  Drug  Watch  program  to  help  prevent  the  spread  of  drugs   in  Burma.     These   special   police   forces   tend   to   the  arrest  of   individuals  who  are  merely  the  local  salesmen  of  the  trade;  they  have  yet  to  bring  charges  against  the  big  producers  who  are  in  charge  of  the  production  and  sales.      

Within  the  ethnic  groups,  there  exists  similar  programs  which  end  up  arresting  the   drug   users,   who   are   the   victims   of   this   lucrative   trade.     They   have   also  established  rehabilitation  centers  to  help  these  addicts.      

In   some   townships   residents   create   campaigns  aimed  at  preventing  drug  use  among   youths.     For   instance   The   Tai   Youth   Network   Group,   provides  suggestions   to   avoid   falling   victim   to   the   drug   trade   as  well   as   assistance   to  those  who  already  have.      

 

Conclusion:  What’s  the  Solution  to  Our  Problem?  

If   the   fighting   persists,   and   the   people   of   Burma   continue   to   exist   among  chaos,   it   will   be   difficult   for   us   to   find   a   viable   solution   to   the   current   drug  problem.    Because  of  the  armed  conflict,  outside  investors  are  able  to  exploit  on  the  situation  to  setup  their  drug  production  and  trade.  Families  are  having  difficulty  providing  for  each  other,  so  they  end  up   involved   in  the  drug  trade.    Even  government  servants,  who  subsist  on  low  wages,  enter  the  trade  to  help  supplement  their  income.      

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To   find   a   solution,   each   group   needs   to   begin   political   dialogue   with   all  members  to  create  a  peace  treaty.    If  we  are  able  to  sustain  this  process,  then  we   can   finally   start   working   on   a   solution,   one   which   includes   both  development   and   law-­‐enforcement.     This  will   present   outside   investors   from  setting   up   their   trade.   This  would   result   in   a   reduction   in   drug   rehabilitation  programs  and  free  up  resources  to  benefit  the  society  as  a  whole.  

It  is  time  for  the  people  of  Burma,  and  all  those  who  are  concerned  about  the  country  to  get  involved  and  not  just  take  a  “wait  and  see”  attitude.    Everyone  needs  to  be  a  part  of  this  change  to  make  it  possible.