Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON575
2009-09-01 10:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
how-toVZCZCXRO5921 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0575 2441001 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011001Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9410 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2257 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5719 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9323 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6905 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1897 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4666 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2692 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000575
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KOKANG UPDATE
REF: RANGOON 567
Classified By: Charge d'Afairs (AI) Thomas Vajda for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d
Refugees Returning to Kokang Region
----------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000575
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KOKANG UPDATE
REF: RANGOON 567
Classified By: Charge d'Afairs (AI) Thomas Vajda for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d
Refugees Returning to Kokang Region
--------------
1.(C) World Food Progamme (WFP) Country Director Chris Kaye
confirmedthat refugees are beginning to return to the Kokang
region. Local shops in the midst of the fighting had been
looted and shopkeepers appear eager to return to protect
their property. Aid workers at the WFP compound in Laukkai
are hoping to evacuate September 1 or 2; Kaye informed us
that the civilian killed outside the compound (reftel) was
not affiliated with WFP.
Wa on High Alert, No Evidence of Involvement
--------------
2.(C) The affected Kokang region is adjacent to Wa territory.
Kaye and Embassy contacts state that the United Wa State
Army (UWSA) has been on a higher state of alert and readiness
since the initial GOB raid on the Myanmar National Democratic
Alliance Army (MNDAA) in early August. To date, we have no
confirmed reports the Wa have been involved in any fighting;
instead they appear to be deploying to protect their
territory in case violence spills over.
Peng Jiasheng and Family are Narcotics Traffickers
-------------- --------------
3.(C) Contacts in the region report that the GOB's initial
raid targeted a suspected weapons factory and narcotics
processing/storage facility controlled by MNDAA chairman Peng
Jiasheng and his immediate family. Peng Jiasheng has been
identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as a major
trafficker since approximately 1975. Once a source of opium,
the Kokang's Special Region Number One more recently has been
documented as a source of high-quality methamphetamine, to
include methamphetamine ICE. In addition to narcotics
trafficking, Peng Jiasheng and his followers have been
suspected of trading arms with Indian insurgents along the
Indian/Burma border in exchange for precursor chemicals used
in the production of both methamphetamine and heroin.
4.(C) Following up on reftel, we note that Phon Kya Shin is
an alternate spelling for Peng Jiasheng, aka Peng Chia-sheng,
the MNDAA Chairman. Phon Kya Phu, aka Peng Chia-fu, is Peng
Jiasheng's brother. Phon Tar Shwin, aka Peng Ta-sheng or
Peng Ta-shun, and Phon Tarli, aka Peng Ta-li, are both Peng
Jiasheng's sons. Peng Jiasheng's family members are also
well-documented by DEA as narcotics traffickers.
VAJDA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KOKANG UPDATE
REF: RANGOON 567
Classified By: Charge d'Afairs (AI) Thomas Vajda for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d
Refugees Returning to Kokang Region
--------------
1.(C) World Food Progamme (WFP) Country Director Chris Kaye
confirmedthat refugees are beginning to return to the Kokang
region. Local shops in the midst of the fighting had been
looted and shopkeepers appear eager to return to protect
their property. Aid workers at the WFP compound in Laukkai
are hoping to evacuate September 1 or 2; Kaye informed us
that the civilian killed outside the compound (reftel) was
not affiliated with WFP.
Wa on High Alert, No Evidence of Involvement
--------------
2.(C) The affected Kokang region is adjacent to Wa territory.
Kaye and Embassy contacts state that the United Wa State
Army (UWSA) has been on a higher state of alert and readiness
since the initial GOB raid on the Myanmar National Democratic
Alliance Army (MNDAA) in early August. To date, we have no
confirmed reports the Wa have been involved in any fighting;
instead they appear to be deploying to protect their
territory in case violence spills over.
Peng Jiasheng and Family are Narcotics Traffickers
-------------- --------------
3.(C) Contacts in the region report that the GOB's initial
raid targeted a suspected weapons factory and narcotics
processing/storage facility controlled by MNDAA chairman Peng
Jiasheng and his immediate family. Peng Jiasheng has been
identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as a major
trafficker since approximately 1975. Once a source of opium,
the Kokang's Special Region Number One more recently has been
documented as a source of high-quality methamphetamine, to
include methamphetamine ICE. In addition to narcotics
trafficking, Peng Jiasheng and his followers have been
suspected of trading arms with Indian insurgents along the
Indian/Burma border in exchange for precursor chemicals used
in the production of both methamphetamine and heroin.
4.(C) Following up on reftel, we note that Phon Kya Shin is
an alternate spelling for Peng Jiasheng, aka Peng Chia-sheng,
the MNDAA Chairman. Phon Kya Phu, aka Peng Chia-fu, is Peng
Jiasheng's brother. Phon Tar Shwin, aka Peng Ta-sheng or
Peng Ta-shun, and Phon Tarli, aka Peng Ta-li, are both Peng
Jiasheng's sons. Peng Jiasheng's family members are also
well-documented by DEA as narcotics traffickers.
VAJDA