The Shan Herald Agency for News has recently reported that 17 people were summarily executed by the United Wa State Army in the Wa controlled area of Shan State, opposite Thailand's Maehongson Province, on May 31st.
The group of 17 were apparently arrested in a raid on an opium caravan. The first article posted about the news said that:
The Wa troops from the 171st Military Region, commanded by Wei's deputy Yang Guojong, raided the traders' camp at Hwe Zalawb, north of Khangpa, opposite Pang Mapha, and confiscated all the opium brought down by them, they said. The consignment was due to be sold to a refinery at Khailong, south of Khangpa, under the protection of a Wa officer Ta Man.
Now, you might be thinking that this incident is some hamhanded attempt to combat drugs in the region - extrajudicial killings are not uncommon in Thailand when it comes to the war on drugs - but you would be mistaken.
The two, Japao and Pawli, who were captured alive were reportedly accused of transferring 200 blocks of heroin across the border to Pakluei village, Tambon Mawnpin, Fang district, 160 km north of Chiangmai last month without paying due taxes.
So, by this account, they were all executed for evading taxes. As if the murder of 17 people being ordered by the local government was not fucked up enough - they were executed for not paying taxes. Taxes!! It almost doesn't make sense. The UWSA army has recently issued an outright ban on all poppy production in their region. So here, they capture a large group of people engaged in trafficking mass quantities of drugs. And, instead of manipulating the opportunity to show their seriousness in combatting narcotics, by..say, holding a 'trial' and sentencing them and making it appear as though some logic was employed, or perhaps interrogating them, or even using the bust as leverage in their relations with Thai authorities - they kill them for not paying taxes.
Who executes 17 people for not paying taxes? Wei Hsuekang, I guess. A local Chiang Mai paper reported that one of the victims was a Thai citizen who'd been working as an informant for Thai authorities. I guess it remains to be seen whether Thailand will say or do anything about this.
Earlier in the month 38 people were taken into custody in the Wa capital Pangshang, reportedly for not notifying Wa authorities of their activities in advance.
I would think Thailand might be at least a little bit concerned that these mini-despots control the land around their busiest border checkpoint, but, I guess they're not too concerned about the despots in power in Pyinmana, so what's one more warlord next door?