TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 242

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The Situation in Burma

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Burma is the largest producer of opium of the three 'Golden Triangle' countries, in the order of 400 tons annually. The main poppy growing areas are in the Kachin Hills and Shan States in north eastern Burm. and to a lesser extant in the Chin Hills in the north-west of the country. Burma is a major contributor to the international illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, the outflow of raw opium, morphine base and heroin being across its wild, mountainous and virtually uncontrollable frontiers with Thailand and Laos and thus into the clandestine stream feeding South Bast Asian markets, including Hong Kong, as previously described. There is no evidence to suggest that drugs are exported via Rangoon or from other Burmese ports.

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The problems faced by Burma which make progress extremely difficult towards eliminating opium poppy growing and thus opium production for the illicit traffic are many and complex; two only are mentioned here. The first of these is the fact that the Burmese Government in Rangoon is unable to exercise effective control, if any control at all, over the areas where opium is grown and the refining processes take place. Secondly Burma subscribes to a policy of strict neutrality and minimal international involvement and is unwilling to accept the assistance of the United Nations or other countries for drug control purposes preferring to endeavour to resolve its problems alone.

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In Burma opium is often exchanged for arms which means in practice that narcotics and insurgency in the growing areas are almost inextricably interrelated. Many small groups of insurgents and bandits traffic in narcotics as a means of obtaining arms and wealth in order to strengthen their positions and extend their influence. However, the major traffickers are the remnants or descendants of the former Kwomintang troops who settled in Burma and Theiland after being driven out of China in 1949; the Kha Kweyei (K.K.Y.) or Burna Self-Defence Forces, being bands of militia which may lend their support to the Burmese Government as their interests appear to dictate, but which are beyond its effective control; and the main Shan and Kachin ethnic insurgent groups. There is frequent fighting between these various factions for control of opium convoys and smuggling routes. Superimposed upon this chaotic and intractable situation in north-eastern Burma is the conflict between the Burmese Government and the Burmese

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Communist Party - White Flag insurgents. The latter are becoming increasingly aggressive and have succeeded in eliminating effective government control over large areas cast of the Salween River. order to meet these various insurgent threats, the Burmese Government, weak in military power, is driven to seek the support and help of the K.K.Y. militia and other factions, but being unable to supply or equip them adequately, is forced to tolerate their traditional sources of income in the form of banditry, extortion, illegal levies and opium trading. To do otherwise would probably alienate these groups and increase the Burmese Government's already very difficult and complicated internal security situation without any tangible gain. In any event the K.K.Y. and others would almost certainly continue their opium trading activities.

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