Akha Girl Killed in Drug Bust, Others Robbed
by Military
Sept. 28, 2002
Dear Friends:
Many points to cover.
First, those of you who have sent in your
pictures with a comment in support of the Akha can see those pictures
up at http://www.akha.org
If you haven't sent your picture in yet,
please do so. A 20k jpg file size is ideal, make sure it is light
enough as on the web many photos look dark.
The plates for the journal are finally done
and we are still in need of additional paper.
Please make a small donation if possible,
Paypal for us is back on line:
http://www.akha.org/donate/donate.htm
Many additions to the web site, be sure to
check it all out.
Mushrooms http://www.akha.org/akha/environment/mushrooms/mushrooms.htm
bugs
http://www.akha.org/akha/environment/bugs/bugs.htm
press photos
http://www.akha.org/education/press.htm,
and human rights reports, as well as a new section called the
Akha News Blotter for small bits I add now and then.
We are still in need of a fundraising person
if you have such skills that you can donate part time.
An Akha girl was killed in a attempted drug
bust in one village, dying of severe injuries.
We have appealed to the White House Office
on National Drug Policy for aid in this region regarding drugs
along the border but they have not replied to our requests of
an educational campaign, while at the same time the US heavily
finances and trains the Thai military for drug war work. No one
can explain these contradictions.
We applied to USAID. Same result.
We applied to the Embassy Narcotic Affairs
office, but while we were negotiating that, the man we were speaking
with was relieved. Rumor has it he was "soft" on the
drug war.
Not sure how it is connected, but one pleasant
soldier who often came to our village to buy geese for the army
base was always friendly toward my small boy of three. But then
as if some omen, my son became very frightened of him. Then just
two days ago I saw him at the small store on the road outside
the village, and waived, the soldier was his happy self. He was
killed on the road in an ambush of some type a few hours later.
His parents came from the low lands of Thailand to get his body.
Sad to see one of the "friendly's" go this way.
Note http://www.akha.org/blotter/blotter.htm
for pics of the local cops asking Akha villagers to tell them
who is using drugs. You have to be in the environment to see the
incredible two tier apartheid economic system to fully appreciate
the context of this. Villages without enough food being raided,
exploited in every way.
Maj. Orachai, the dude with the fast blinking
eyes (does drug use cause this?) has left the area. Too bad he
robbed the Lahu and beat their trucks before leaving. Is that
what they call "severance pay" and the normal process
for getting it?
A lot of info up at
http://www.akha.org/humanrights/drugwar/drugwar.htm
for those of you unaware of some of the argument in this region.
Mr. Yah Goh was robbed, still doesn't have
the money back, same for Mr. Ah Dauh.
http://www.akha.org/humanrights/abuse/cases/yahgoh/yahgoh.htm
Mr. Ah Tsah and Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow, the
two Lahu men seen taken by the army, are still missing.
Mr. Yah Tooh still has not gotten his 91,000
baht back though it is now the subject of an army report.
http://www.akha.org/humanrights/abuse/cases/yahtooh/yahtooh.htm
Information on Akha ceremonies
http://akha.org/akha/ceremonies/ceremonies.htm
We have long wondered about the Taiwan related
mission connections to the use of drugs. Well in the news the
heat seems to be getting closer. We note numerous Taiwan Missions
in these areas which have no shortage of money for their projects.
This is extraordinary considering what it takes in the Post 911
era to raise money, but not for these people.
http://www.akha.org/humanrights/drugwar/taiwandrugs.htm
We are still working on our coffee project,
Fair Trade efforts around the world can contribute to our cause.
We are in need of funds for a coffee roaster and ordering our
coffee packaging.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our
work in Thailand to assist the Akha people.
Sincerely,
Matthew McDaniel
The Akha Heritage Foundation
Maesai, Chiangrai, Thailand
Donations by check or money order may be sent to:
The Akha Heritage Foundation
PO BOX 6073
Salem OR 97304 USA
