On 26 June Sao Yawd Serk gave this statement, it’s important that the world know that RCSS and SSA definately combat the Narcotic Drugs in Shan State
Statement on Drug Problems
The Restoration Council of Shan State ( RCSS )
Loi Tai Leng ( SSA Headquarters )
26 June 2008
The RCSS strongly supports the UN effort of trying to wipe out the drug from the world. For decades, poppy plantations have cultivated in the Golden Triangle, Shan State, Burma. Local people double poppy growing percentage and around 5000 - 6000 tones of opium production per year.
It is because the Burmese Army oppresses people, failed to introduce a sufficient economic system for the people.
Many farmers turned their backs from the paddy to poppy fields. The reasons are growing poppy is easier and drug traffickers are ready to buy them in cash. Moreover with that income, they cold pay the taxes to the Burmese authorities and cope with their daily survival.
For years, the Burmese regime blind folded the international community about the real cause of drug problem and used it as a political tool to discredit the Shan State political activists and Shan fighters. Simultaneously, the Burmese regime asked the financial assistance from the international
community to solve the drug problems. In fact , with the financial assistance, the regime bought weapons to kill the innocent local farmers and waged war against the ethnic armed groups. In the meantime, some foreign businessmen set up their pocket armies inside Shan State and work as militia groups for the Burmese regime. The drug traffickers set up drug refineries along the Thai - Shan border, in order to produce heroin amphetamines and other drugs. Later they transport these illict drugs from Burma to Southeast Asia, EU countries and US.
Shan State people were hired as daily workers for the groups and hundreds of Shan State young people become drug addicts. Many of them risk of losing their future.
The RCSS is fully alert on the drug threat and has big concern for its young generation and the future of Shan State. The RCSS believes the drug threat is not just for Shan State people but also to the world as well.
To solve the drug problems, the RCSS has appealed to the international community for help but no countries heed the calls. The RCSS has to sort out its own difficulties. However, on behalf of the people, the RCSS is committed to hold on its stance against the drugs.
Therefore, since 1999, the SSA was able to raid nine drug refineries and seized more Than 100 kilos of heroin and 3000,000 amphetamine tablets along the Thai-Shan border. In return, the SSA has lost many fighters during the raids.
Prior to the SSA´s drug campaigns, 19 drug refineries stationed along the Thai-Shan border. After that, many of the drug refineries stop its drug production. However drug traffickers and the Burmese regime continue giving trouble to the SSA. As the drug traffickers have a global network, their men present almost everywhere and try to pressurize on the SSA.
However, in effort to solve political conflicts and drug-political links, the RCSS has laid out six political guidelines ;unity, independence, democracy, social development, drug eradication and peace.
Additionally, the RCSS forbid its fighters and local people of using drugs and imposes a strict ban on it.
The RCSS future plans on drug campaigns
* Document drug traffickers inside Shan State
* Document the poppy farmers, (why they grow, villages, districts, townships and the percentage of the poppy production).
* Document transportation routes and the drug purchasers
* To educate the people and youth on the drug and its impact
* Will hold peace talk with the Burmese regime and convince them not to oppress the people, to let people work independently.. In an effort to eradicate the drug, the RCSS will cooperate with the regime. Will inform and acknowledge the Burmese senior leaders about its corrupted regional Commanders
* Crop substitution projects
* Find or create markets for the people to sell their crops
* To solve the drug problems, the RCSS will cooperate with the neighbouring countries, Thailand, China, Laos and the international community.
Yawd Serk
Chairman
Restoration Council of Shan State
The Restoration Council of Shan State ( RCSS )
Loi Tai Leng ( SSA Headquarters )
26 June 2008
The RCSS strongly supports the UN effort of trying to wipe out the drug from the world. For decades, poppy plantations have cultivated in the Golden Triangle, Shan State, Burma. Local people double poppy growing percentage and around 5000 - 6000 tones of opium production per year.
It is because the Burmese Army oppresses people, failed to introduce a sufficient economic system for the people.
Many farmers turned their backs from the paddy to poppy fields. The reasons are growing poppy is easier and drug traffickers are ready to buy them in cash. Moreover with that income, they cold pay the taxes to the Burmese authorities and cope with their daily survival.
For years, the Burmese regime blind folded the international community about the real cause of drug problem and used it as a political tool to discredit the Shan State political activists and Shan fighters. Simultaneously, the Burmese regime asked the financial assistance from the international
community to solve the drug problems. In fact , with the financial assistance, the regime bought weapons to kill the innocent local farmers and waged war against the ethnic armed groups. In the meantime, some foreign businessmen set up their pocket armies inside Shan State and work as militia groups for the Burmese regime. The drug traffickers set up drug refineries along the Thai - Shan border, in order to produce heroin amphetamines and other drugs. Later they transport these illict drugs from Burma to Southeast Asia, EU countries and US.
Shan State people were hired as daily workers for the groups and hundreds of Shan State young people become drug addicts. Many of them risk of losing their future.
The RCSS is fully alert on the drug threat and has big concern for its young generation and the future of Shan State. The RCSS believes the drug threat is not just for Shan State people but also to the world as well.
To solve the drug problems, the RCSS has appealed to the international community for help but no countries heed the calls. The RCSS has to sort out its own difficulties. However, on behalf of the people, the RCSS is committed to hold on its stance against the drugs.
Therefore, since 1999, the SSA was able to raid nine drug refineries and seized more Than 100 kilos of heroin and 3000,000 amphetamine tablets along the Thai-Shan border. In return, the SSA has lost many fighters during the raids.
Prior to the SSA´s drug campaigns, 19 drug refineries stationed along the Thai-Shan border. After that, many of the drug refineries stop its drug production. However drug traffickers and the Burmese regime continue giving trouble to the SSA. As the drug traffickers have a global network, their men present almost everywhere and try to pressurize on the SSA.
However, in effort to solve political conflicts and drug-political links, the RCSS has laid out six political guidelines ;unity, independence, democracy, social development, drug eradication and peace.
Additionally, the RCSS forbid its fighters and local people of using drugs and imposes a strict ban on it.
The RCSS future plans on drug campaigns
* Document drug traffickers inside Shan State
* Document the poppy farmers, (why they grow, villages, districts, townships and the percentage of the poppy production).
* Document transportation routes and the drug purchasers
* To educate the people and youth on the drug and its impact
* Will hold peace talk with the Burmese regime and convince them not to oppress the people, to let people work independently.. In an effort to eradicate the drug, the RCSS will cooperate with the regime. Will inform and acknowledge the Burmese senior leaders about its corrupted regional Commanders
* Crop substitution projects
* Find or create markets for the people to sell their crops
* To solve the drug problems, the RCSS will cooperate with the neighbouring countries, Thailand, China, Laos and the international community.
Yawd Serk
Chairman
Restoration Council of Shan State