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Opium cultvaton surges under government control in Burma
Poisoned Hills
by the Palaung Womens Organizaton
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Acronyms
ALTSEAN Alternative Asean Network on Burma
INGO International Non-Government Organ
LIB Light Infantry Battalion
MNDAA Myanmar National Democratic Allian
PSLA Palaung State Liberation Army
PSLF Palaung State Liberation FrontPWO Palaung Womens Organization
SHAN Shan Herald Agency for News
SPDC State Peace and Development Council
TSYO Taang Student and Youth OrganizatioUNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and C
UWSA United Wa State Army
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Table of Contents
Executve Summary ...........................................
Introducton .....................................................
Community assessment method ........................
Background ......................................................The War on Drugs in Burma: success or failure? ..
Recent drug-related developments .......................
Regime starting to smear ceasefire groups as drug
Regimes expansion of militia gives green light fo
drug production .................................................
Drug business as usual in Palaung areas ..............
Findings .............................................................
Opium cultivation soaring in Mantong and Namkh
Mantong .................................................................
Number of villages where opium is grown triplOpium poppy cultivation increases sixfold ......
Namkham ..............................................................
Opium poppy cultivation doubles .....................
Extortion of opium farmers by authorities ...........
Majority of poppy fields being left intact .............
Opium cultivation replacing traditional Palaung teIncreasing opium addiction in Palaung villages ....
Authorities feed off rampant heroin abuse in Nam
PWO findings and official UNODC surveys .........
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CHINA
INDIA
Namkham
THAILAND
BURMA
Mantong
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Executve Summary
Community assessments by the Palaung Womens Org
the past two years reveal that the amount of opium
in Burmas northern Shan State has been increasing d
amounts are far higher than reported in the annual opiu
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)ing not in insurgent and ceasefire areas, as claimed b
areas controlled by Burmas military government, the
Development Council (SPDC).
Between 2007-2009, PWO conducted field surveys i
Mantong townships, and found that the total area of
increased almost fivefold over three years from 963
2006-7 season to 4,545 hectares in the 2008-9 season.
Namkham and Mantong are both fully under the cont
The areas have an extensive security infrastructure iArmy battalions, police, and pro-government villag
militia are allowed to engage in illicit income-genera
exchange for policing against resistance activity, and ar
in the lead up to the regimes planned 2010 elections.
Local authorities, in anti-drug teams formed by thtownship, have been systematically extorting fees f
exchange for allowing them to grow opium. During th
in Mantong township, at least 37 million kyat (US$37
total were collected from 28 villages
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To bear public witness to human rights violations cregime and its allies in UNODC program areas,
drug eradication is given as a pretext for these v
suspend support for these programs if the violatio
For donor countries supporting UN and other official
aimed at eradicating drugs and assisting drug-affecin Shan State:
To carry out independent evaluations of these pro
their sustainability and effectiveness in addressing t
particularly in light of the regimes recent attacks
rights violations in the Kokang area, which was
a model drug eradication project area; and to revprograms that are ineffective.
To the international community:
To challenge Burmas military regime for its fai
address problems of opium production and addictiits control.
To question the regime about its strategy of build
ethnic areas, as this is promoting warlordism inste
governance, and will thereby fuel the drug problem
To pressure the regime to implement a nationwi
begin tripartite dialogue as a first step towards estapeace and democracy, as this is the only way to b
the deep-rooted drug problem in Burma.
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Introducton
In 2006, the PWO published a report Poisoned Flowers
the impacts of spiralling drug addiction on women in P
Burma. Following the publication of the report, we s
increase in opium production and drug abuse in our are
of an effective response from the military authorities agencies. Noticing the discrepancy between the offi
successful drug eradication, and our own experience, we
to conduct our own assessment of opium cultivation
our areas. Therefore, between 2007 and 2009, we organ
members to monitor the drug situation in the township
Mantong and Namhsan. This report details the results o
We have be
this research
of women in
ties whose liing to be de
addiction of
sons and fa
know that t
grown in ou
ing exportedto the rest of
Thailand and
the world, w
inflicting the
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Community assessment method
Data was collected for this report by local field research
2007 and September 2009. Opium surveys were carr
consecutive seasons in villages in Mantong and Nam
Villages which were known to be in opium growing
could be accessed by our researchers were chosen. Ourtravelled to each village after the end of the opium h
and interviewed local village leaders and farmers abo
poppy grown and the acreage destroyed by local autho
The researchers were all from the local area and in mo
respondents personally.
The researchers also interviewed village leaders in Man
and Namhsan townships to find out trends in opium add
out the changing patterns in tea growing compared to
police reports regarding opium eradication were also mad
For security reasons, we have not included the names o
real names of any of the people interviewed. The ma
approximate locations of villages growing opium.
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The War on Drugs in Burma: success or fa
According to official accounts, Burma is a drug eradicat
In the 1980s, Burma was the worlds largest illicit pr
poppy. Opium production continued to soar until the m
according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and C
measures to reduce opium poppy cultivation by the Myanmar and local authorities led to a huge decline in
production. The acreage of opium poppy cultivation i
2009 Myanmar Opium Survey, despite a gradual incre
three years, was a mere 29% of the acreage reported in
Burmas military regime thus appears to be successfull15-year plan to eliminate opium cultivation by 2015.
burning ceremony on October 31, 2009 in northern Sha
Chief of Police Brigadier General Khin Yi told foreign
the achievements under this plan, and the regimes re
its fi
ght against the illicit production and traffi
c of na
The UNODC has urged more international develop
in order to sustain the regimes drug eradicatio
Accordingly, various UN agencies and international N
increasing amounts of aid in opium-affected areas of S
However, the decline in official SPDC and UNODC
cultivation has been offset by massive production of am
stimulants (ATS), also known as methamphetamines o
yaa baa (crazy medicine) since 1994 and for which B
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describe how, far from being contained, opium growingthroughout Shan State and to other parts of Burma wh
been grown before. They have written several repor
how the Burmese military regime is relying on the dr
its army and local security militia in the ethnic states, a
only a political solution to the civil war can bring an
problem in Burma.3
SHAN also questions the UNODCs claim of a huge red
production since the 1990s. They quote insiders in the
say that the opiumfigures in the 1990s (compiled by the
were hugely inflated, and therefore the massive drop
They also question the reliability of UNODC drug survon eradication reports and ground truthing of satel
Burmese military and police personnel.
The 2004 reportA Failing Grade by the Alternative A
on Burma, contains a comprehensive critique of the Bu
drug eradication efforts, and argues against increasi
assistance for drug eradication programs unless the r
changes its policies. It concludes that A drug eradi
Burma must be pursued alongside political and econo
before it.4
Recent drug-related developments
Regime starting to smear ceasefire groups as drug vil
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One of the groups that had refused to conform was thtional Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), based in
on the Chinese border. This group was well-known for
and trafficking. However, the regime had long turned
involvement in drugs, calling the Kokang territory a D
and inviting international agencies to carry out develop
part of its successful drug eradication program there.
This all changed in August 2009, when the regime us
raiding a drugs factory to launch an assault on the K
fighting and widespread abuses against civilians by the
including extrajudicial killing and rape, drove over 37,
China.5 The regime subsequently seized control of the since announced the capture of huge amounts of drugs
equipment used by the former Kokang leaders.
Clearly, the regime had tolerated the drug involvemen
it was politically expedient, and then used this issue t
soon as the Kokang showed signs of dissent.
There is now strong speculation that the regime will use
with other ceasefire groups that are refusing to becom
Forces, particularly the United Wa State Army, whic
reputation for drug involvement.
Regimes expansion of militia gives green light for
production
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businesses, legal or illegal. The most lucrative of thedrugs. As pointed out by SHAN in 2006, many influe
now becoming the new face of the drug trade in Sha
Thus ironically, while the regime is seeking to paint its m
the ceasefire groups as a crusade against drugs, it is
building up security units that are just as notorious for dDuring 2009, it has been transforming militia units int
example, the influential Lahu militia group headed by J
operates in eastern Shan State, between Kengtung an
which is notorious for drug involvement, has recently b
into a battalion by the SPDC.
Since the start of 2009, village headmen in townships t
State have been ordered to recruit young men between t
40, to be trained either as new militia units, or to join
forces. Hundreds of young men in each township have
military training, and equipped with old army weapons
Given the existing militias well-known involvement in
their expansion is only likely to lead to greater drug
trafficking.
Drug business as usual in Palaung areas
The main townships inhabited by Palaung in Northern
Namkham, Mantong and Namhsan. They are all fully un
control with Burma Army battalions set up in the m
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SPDC military and milita bases in PWO s
SPDC
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Formerly, Mantong and Namhsan were under the contro
group, the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA), wh
opium growing. However, since the disarming of the
opium cultivation and addiction has surged in Manton
prices have driven Palaung farmers to plant opium instetheir traditional crop of tea. Even though opium is n
Namhsan, which remains a tea producing area, local dr
been rising with the increased availability of opium.
Burma Army soldiers perform drills in Namkham Town
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caught Kyaw Myints younger brother Kyaw Htwe anThan transporting drugs to the village of Pansay but th
immediately after paying one and a half million kyat (app
Since early 2009, the regime has been ordering new m
in the Palaung areas, particularly in Namkham. On F
village headmen and tract chairmen from different arewere summoned to a meeting in Namkham town
order had been given by Major General Than Maung
headquarters at Burmas capital Naypyidaw for new m
throughout the township.
In each village tract, headmen and chairmen were ordemen, preferably single and under 30 years old to be m
One hundred men from three villages, Salu, Man Aun
then selected to attend the first training from Septemb
2, 2009, given by Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 1
training was held from October 7 to 13, 2009, again
100 participants from the same villages. It was claimed
was for fire-fighting, but in reality it was a military t
militia recruits were subsequently issued with rifles an
security in their areas.
The organizing of new militia while existing militia arlicence to deal in drugs has led to fears among local Pal
that lawlessness and drug production is set to increase
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Opium cultvaton soaring in Mantong an
Field assessments were conducted of opium growing o
in two main areas: Mantong and Namkham. A set nu
were targeted in each township, and village leaders i
the opium growing season to find out the total estimate
by villagers in their area. They were also asked whethehad destroyed any poppy fields, and the acreage destro
Both townships showed an increase in opium cultiv
but the increase was far more dramatic in Mantong.
townships were targeted to be opium-free by 2004 un
regimes 15-year master drug elimination plan.
Mantong
Number of villages where opium is grown triples
It was found that the number of villages growing opiu
survey area of Mantong township has tripled from 200
surveyed 75 villages in Mantong. During the 2006-7 s
these villages grew opium. This increased to 35 village
season. By the 2008-9 season all of the villages were g
Number of villages where opium is grown in Manto
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Area under opium poppy cultivation increases six fol
The area of opium poppy cultivation (not including
destroyed) has increased six fold from 2006 to 20
acres (635 hectares) to 9,707 acres (3,928 hectares). A
the percentage of opium fields destroyed by the auth
decreasing each year, from 28% of the total grown in
season to only 12% in the 2008-2009 season.
Opium cultvaton in Mantong survey area (
Opium cultvaton in Mantong survey area (
2006-7 2007-8
Opium poppy
cultvaton
(afer
635 962
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Namkham
Area under opium poppy cultivation doubles
The 16 villages surveyed in Namkham were all foun
opium during the past three years surveyed. The tot
cultivation almost doubled from 812 acres (328 he
acres (617 hectares) over the three years. Very few pdestroyed by the authorities: only 1 acre in the 2006-7
the 2007-8 season, and only 10 acres in the 2008-9 se
Opium cultvaton in Namkham survey area
Opium cultvaton in Namkham survey area
2006-7 2007-8
Opium poppy cultvaton 328 496
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PWO Assessment of opium cult
Kachin State
Chi
Namkham
Mantong
2006-7 season
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2007-8 season
Kachin State
Ch
Namkham
Mantong
2008-9 season
Kachin State
Ch
Namkham
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Extorton of opium farmers by authorites
Opium farmers gave consistent reports of extortion by
after the start of the opium growing season, from abo
January. Bribes or taxes for opium growing wer
anti-drug teams in each township.
These teams are usually comprised of local police, mi
pro-government militia, and members of the local fi
teams are tasked to travel out to villages, destroy any p
find, and then send wireless reports of the acreage foun
back to the police headquarters. In reality, the teams u
out to a village, and negotiate with the local headmanpayment or tax to be paid by villagers in return fo
fields intact. When payment is given, the team may lea
fields intact, or may destroy some of the easily visible
The chart in Appendix 1 shows the amounts of money
by villagers to various local authorities in Mantong d
total of 37,030,000 kyat (approx US$37,000) was repor
paid to the authorities. Bribes paid per village varied fr
(approx US$50) up to 4,800,000 kyats (US4,800). In
bribes ensured that no fields were destroyed, but in oth
of the bribe, up to 40% of thefi
elds were destroyed.
Villagers reported not only paying the anti-drug t
individual authorities who came to collect bribes at
during the opium growing season For example in 200
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"We have to pay a lot of taxes when we grow
the SPDC soldiers and militia do not come a
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Majority of poppy fields being le intact by
PWO assessments of percentages of opium fields
local authorities differ greatly from the official police d
that in Mantong and Namkham combined, only 20%
were destroyed in the 2006-7 season and only 16% w
the 2007-8 season. However, according to police datUNODC Opium Survey) the majority offields in Nort
had been destroyed (70% in 2006-7, and 54% in 2007-8
season, the police reported destroying only 25% of o
this was still over twice the percentage found by PW
charts at right).
PWO was able to obtain the internal report for 200
Northern Shan State Anti-Narcotics Police to their
Naypyidaw, which listed in detail the acreage of pop
and acreage of poppy fields destroyed. In every area, th
and destroyed was reported as exactly the same; in o
police were claiming that they destroyed every field the
Table 1 on on pages 24-25 and Appendix 2).
PWO found that in at least one of the villages includ
eradication list, a large acreage of opium was not rep
comparison example in Table 2). Given the consistbribery during eradication operations found by PWO
confirm that the authorities just destroyed a token am
usually those easily visible from the road, and dema
return for not destroying the rest (see Table 2 on follow
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PWO assessments and SPDC police d
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Table 1: Translated excerpt from SPDC po
Table 2: Comparison example of opium fodestroyed during 2006-7 season
No. Township Village Map
locaton
41 Mantong Man Byaing T-003927
42 Maing Ye Man Pyat H-865822
43 Namkham Man Pu O-436064
44 Tangyan Lway Se D-269053
SPDC police report
Village Acreage found Acre
Man Pu 2
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Eradicaton
group
Acres found Acres
destroyed
Total acres W
Army/police
combined3.7 3.7 3.7
Army/police
combined2 2 2
Army/police
combined2 2 2
Army/police
combined3 3 3
PWO assessment
Village Total acreage Acreage
Man Pu 30
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Opium cultvaton replacing traditonal
growing
PWOs earlier report Poisoned Flowers had describe
villagers in northern Shan State have been increasi
opium rather than their traditional livelihood of tea
result of military controls on tea prices and excessivethe past few years, tea farmers have continued to suffe
these problems, but also the rising price of commod
Burma, and new restrictions on trading of agricultural
townships in northern Shan State. This has been furth
them to cultivate opium.
We surveyed one village LK in Mantong towns
acreages of opium and tea being grown by the village
three years. LK is a village of 180 households, with
1,080 villagers. It was found that out of the original
tea farms that were formerly cultivated by the villager
acreage of tea that was actively cultivated (i.e. the tea pland the tea leaves picked) decreased by almost half to
Meanwhile, the acreage of opium increased over the sa
500 to 800 acres.
In March 2009, the SPDC Ministry of Health suddenlybanning of all tea products containing the chemical dye
which had been used in fermented tea. Troops, police
authorities confiscated and destroyed large amounts
without checking whether they actually contained the
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The economy is not reliable, and the price of tea
The people cannot survive on such a low price ofresort to growing opium. Opium only takes a short
and they get a huge profit from it. If they grow opium
it can cover the cost of their food for the whole yea
(Man Pu village, Namkham township)
Tea and opium cultvaton in LK village, Mant
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Increasing opium addicton in Palaung vill
PWOs report Poisoned Flowers had detailed the dev
of increasing addiction on Palaung communities, part
Already suffering from severe gender discrimination,
face multiple hardships when their husbands become add
not only stop providing for their families, but sell opossessions, go into debt, commit theft and deal in drug
addiction. Subjected to verbal and physical abuse from
wives must struggle to bear the entire burden of suppo
for up to 10 or 11 children in villages with scarce acce
education services.
To find out recent trends in drug addiction, PWO carrie
with leaders of villages where there was known to
problem. One village was chosen in each of three town
Namkham and Namhsan. In Mantong and Namkham the
were also opium growing villages. The village in Nam
opium growing village.
The percentage of male addicts over 15 had increased y
2006 to 2009 in each of the villages. The highest rates o
found in Mantong.
Mantong
The sample village in Mantong had a total population o
360 people. An estimated 160 were males, and of these
males over 15
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Namkham
The sample village in Namkham had a total population 3,500, people. An estimated 1,500 were males, and of
were males aged 15 and over.
Namhsan
The sample village in Namhsan had a total population
1,500 people. An estimated 650 were males, and of were males over 15.
Namhsan rates of addicton
Namkham rates of addicton
Number of maleaddicts aged 15+
% of males athat are ad
2007 115 12%
2008 250 27%
2009 400 44%
Number of male
addicts aged 15+
% of males a
that are ad
2007 45 11%
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Authorites feed offrampant heroin abuse
In the town of Namkham, there is a thriving market for
many young migrant men from other parts of Burma w
work at the China border.
Two makeshift camps infi
elds just outside the town the source of the cheapest drugs for hardened addict
that about 100 addicts a day come to each camp to ta
addicts coming, most are heroin addicts, and about 3
injecting drug users. In the camps, heroin is sold in sm
as little as 500 kyat a time. Addicts come as many as t
to get their fix.
In the town itself, dealers operate from their home
heroin and amphetamines, but do not sell in amounts
kyat. PWO learned of at least 15 houses where drugs
way.
The fact that drug-taking locations are an open s
collusion of local authorities in the drug trade. Instea
the drug dealers, local authorities appear to be targe
source of easy income.
On April 10, 2008, the Burma Army camp commander
Battalion 144 in Namkham and the local anti-drug
militia, carried out a coordinated raid against drug ad
the villages near the town of Namkham They were
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Map from UNODC 2008 Survey
Map corrected to show actual areas under control of c
CHIN
CH
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PWO findings and official UNODC surveys
There are clear discrepancies between thefindings of PW
assessments and the UNODC annual opium survey
acreage under cultivation and the amounts eradicate
mapping of opium growing areas is also inaccurate.
PWO has the following concerns about the UNODC s
1. UNODC is failing to acknowledge that ing is taking place in government-control
The 2008 UNODC Myanmar Opium Survey layscontinuing drug production in Burma entirely on
The survey found that opium poppy cultivation too
controlled by insurgency and by ceasefire groups.
In another section, it states: Manton Township is a
opium growing area. Opium cultivation was carriedunder the control of PSLA (Palaung State Liberation A
Yet none of the opium growing areas surveyed by PW
and Mantong townships are under the control of insur
groups. They are entirely under the control of the Bu
their local proxy militia since the disarming of the PSL
The 2009 UNODC Myanmar Opium Survey, releas
2009 uses the same outdated map of the ceasefire t
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2. UNODC is relying on data from SPDC
PWO assessments have documented that the actual
cultivation in Northern Shan State is much higher tha
by the UNODC in their recent opium surveys (see table
the 2008-9 season, the acreage found by PWO for onl
out of the total of 23 townships in Northern Shan State
times the total recorded by UNODC for all the 23 town
PWO is concerned that the UNODC is relying on d
police both for eradication as well as for ground tru
when PWO assessments have shown that the SPDC
police are vastly underreporting to their superiors the afound.
In August 2008, the United Nations Office of Internal Ov
Internal Audit Division conducted a review of UNODC
in Burma. The report concluded that while the UNODC
achieved its opium survey requirements it failed to
2006-7 2
UNODC
OpiumSurvey
North Shan
(23 townships)
390
PWO survey Mantong and Namkham
survey areas alone
963 1
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Conclusion and Recommendatons
PWOs research has shown a significant increase in o
and addiction in Palaung areas since the publicati
Flowers in 2006.
The regime is allowing drugs to be grown in areas un
and allowing authorities to extort from growers and ad
the process of expanding militia security units which
involved in drugs.
PWOs findings thus highlight the structural issues
drug problem in Burma. The regime is pursuing a stramilitarization in the ethnic states to maintain control
resistance movements, instead of entering into polit
with them. For this, it needs an ever growing security
in turn is subsidized by the drug trade. The regimes d
power at all costs is thus taking precedence over its sta
eradication.
This shows that unless the regimes militarizatio
challenged, international funding will make little diffe
problem in Burma. A negotiated resolution of the p
the root of Burmas civil war is urgently needed in o
address the drug scourge that is impacting the region.
PWO therefore makes the following recommendati
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For the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime:
To improve data collection methods for the annuin Burma to ensure that the data is more accura
to independently verify data provided by the B
regime before publishing it in the survey; and to m
political analysis is not erroneous and misleading.
To consult with independent community-base
when carrying out surveys and evaluation of pro
accurate triangulation of data.
To bear public witness to human rights violations c
regime and its allies in UNODC program areas,
drug eradication is given as a pretext for these vi
suspend support for these programs if the violatio
For donor countries supporting UN and other official I
aimed at eradicating drugs and assisting drug-affect
in Shan State:
To carry out independent evaluations of these pro
their sustainability and effectiveness in addressing thparticularly in light of the regimes recent attacks a
rights violations in the Kokang area, which was
a model drug eradication project area; and to rev
programs that are ineffective.
To the international community:
To challenge Burmas military regime for its fail
address problems of opium production and addictio
its control
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ENDNOTES
1 Lintner, Bertil and Black, Michael,Merchants of Mad
amphetamine Explosion in the Golden Triangle, C
worm, 2009.
2 Chin, Ko-Lin, The Golden Triangle. Inside Southe
Trade, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2009, Chin, KSheldon X., The Chinese Connection: Cross Border
between Myanmar and China, Washington DC: Depa
Document 218254, April 2007, Beijing tells Rang
trafficking, Agence France-Presse, February 2, 200
3
Shan Herald Agency for News, Show Business. RanDrugs in Shan State, Chiang Mai: SHAN, Decem
Herald Agency for News, Hand in Glove. The Burm
drug trade in Shan State, Chiang Mai: SHAN, Septe
4 Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, A Failing
Drug Eradication Efforts, Bangkok: ALTSEAN, Yawnghwe, Chao-Tzang, Shan State Politics: Th
Factor, in Martin Jelsma, Tom Kramer, Pietje Ver
the Triangle. Opium and Conflict in Burma, Chiang
Books, 2005, pp.23-32.
5
Storey, Ian, Emerging Fault Lines in Sino-BurmesKokang Incident, China Brief, 9, (18), September 1
6 SHAN, Hand in Glove, 2006.
7
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Appendix 1:
Detailed opium cultvaton assessment da
Mantong
2006-2007 Season
No Village Total acres
of opium
grown
Total acres
destroyed
1 PK (MM) Over 80 -
2 LSK 15 -
3 LK 10 -
4 HH 30 -
5 HoT 80 30
6 KT 100 -
7 KS 150 100
8 Htong Over 80 -
9 LK Over 500 -
10 PT 20 -
11 LMT 20 -
12 LM 5 - 13 NS Over 40 -
14 HoS 20
200 0
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No Village Total acresof opium
grown
Total acredestroyed
19 NS 40 -
20 PKG&PKT 150 60
21 TM 10 6
22 SL Over 40 6
23 MM Over 30 10
24 MM 30 -
Total Over 2,180
acres
= over 882
hectares
612 acres
= 248
hectares
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Mantong 2007-2008 Season
No Village Total
acres of
opium
grown
Total acres
destroyed
Amount no
destroyed
1 PK 100 50 50
2 LSK 15 15
3 LK 15 15
4 HH 50 10 40
5 HoT 50 50
6 KT 100 100
7 KS 100 30 70
8 Htong 100 40 60
9 LK 700 300 400
10 KK 200 50 150
11 KM 50 20 30
12 NS 50 50
13 PKG&PKT 200 160 40
14 PK 40 40
15 MM (TT) 100 100
16 MM 35 16 19
17 KM (LK) 30 30
18 SL 60 10 50
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No Village Total
acres of
opium
grown
Total acres
destroyed
Amount n
destroyed
24 MS 120 120
25 MK - - -
26 NP - - -
27 LK 15 15
28 NOG - - -
29 MM 40 10 30
30 TK - - -
31 TK(LS) - - -
32 SL 15 15
33 PC 3 3
34 MT (LK) 30 5 25 35 PKN 37 37
36 MW 150 150
37 MW - - -
38 MhoJ 100 100
39 LKT 400 400
40 TM 90 90
41 TN (PS) 10 10
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Mantong 2008-2009 Season
No Village Total acres of
opium grown
Total acres
destroyed
1 PK (MM) 270 100
2 LSK 15
3 LK 20 -
4 HH 70 -
5 HoT 65 -
6 KT 130 -
7 KS 350 100
8 Htong 68 26
9 LK 800 -
10 LMT 25 -
11 MHJ 560 160
12 PT 30 -
13 KK 470 100
14 LKT 570 100 15 LM 30 -
16 HS 80 -
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No Village Total acres of
opium grown
Total acres
destroyed
45 PKN 130 -
46 MW 627 30
47 WK 130 -
48 KKY 560 -
49 KLS 280 -
50 MS 420 -
51 PS 210 -
52 TN(PS) 400 -
53 PY 250 -
54 TL 30 -
55 WK 30 -
56 PK 15 -
57 PL(NJ) 85 30
58 TP 65 40
59 LS 75 6
60 TP 45 -
61 TK 85 5
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No Village Total acres of
opium grown
Total acres
destroyed
67 HoH 5 -
68 NKL 70 50
69 ML 39 -
70 LK 80 -
71 KM 85 -
72 HoL 120 -
73 MS 250 -
74 JK 30 -
75 PHL 50 -
Total 11,084
acres =4,486
hectares
1,377
acres = 557
hectares
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Namkham
2006-2007 Season
No Village Total acres
opium grown
1 PS Over 500
2 SK Over 60 3 TG 30
5 NSR 10
6 MW 30
7 MS 20
8 NS 10
9 MP 30
10 TH 10
11 SK Over 30
12 WLu 10
13 KK 15
14 PY 7
15 Upper ST and Lower ST 30
16 PP 20
Total 812 acres= 329 hectares
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Namkham 2007-2008 Season
No Village Total acres
opium grown
1 PS 700
2 SK Over 80 3 TG 60
5 NSR Over 40
6 MW 50
7 MS Over 30
8 NS Over 15
9 MP Over 50
10 TH Over 25
11 SK 50
12 WLu Over 20
13 KK 20
14 PY 15
15 Upper ST and Lower ST 40
16 PP 30
Total 1,225= 496 hectares
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Namkham 2008-2009 Season
No Village Total acres
opium grown
1 PS Over 800
2 SK 100
3 TG 80 5 NSR 60
6 MW Over 70
7 MS Over 60
8 NS 30
9 MP 60
10 TH Over 40
11 SK 60
12 WLu 30
13 KK 30
14 PY 15
15 Upper ST and Lower ST Over 50
16 PP 50
Total Over 1,535
= 621 hectares
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Appendix 2: Police reports of poppy field
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express our warm thanks to all the
soldiers and other community members who con
report by courageously sharing their testimonies
their time and energy to inform this report.
We would like to give very special thanks to th
Burma Institute for Democracy and Developmen
Society Institute (OSI) and Burma Relief Centre (B
We express additional thanks to the Burma Vol
(Shannon) and American Jewish World Serviceprovided volunteers to help us edit the translation o
We express additional thanks to the entire PWO
team and members who helped us prepare this repo
Thanks also to TSYO, PSLF, and the Palaung peopgenerously helping us access grassroots areas wh
with invaluable information for this report.
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Palaung Womens Organizaton
PWO believes that recognizing womens rights and wome
at different political and social levels is one of the proc
a just society.
Organizatonal Profile
The Palaung Womens Organisation (PWO) was estabresponse to the dearth of women actively participating
laung organizations. Cultural factors determined that
access to training, better English language and compu
self-confidence and more leadership opportunities.
PWO was formed with the intention of educating a
women so that they could develop and strengthen
determination and achieve equality of participation.
Mission
PWO is an organization to empower and advance thPalaung women towards equality, peace and a just soc
Objectves
To develop the status of Palaung women and enc
male participation at all decision making levels.
To maintain the literacy and culture of Palaung pe To participate in the democratic, peaceful an
movement for Burma.
To advance and promote gender equality and wo
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In our area, if we dont marry a drug addict,
h t t i d ith b
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we have no one to get married with because
everyone is a drug addict here. The only men who
arent using drugs are the monks who stay in the
monastery.E Kaw, Namkham Township
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