Return to Mae Sai - Typical Day? 04/02/2010

We made it back to Mae Sai without incident on Friday. That is Myanmar (Burma) on the other side of the river.

We talked about going to Ban AYO on the way back as I wanted to see if we could find out the real story on Chom-nom's arrest. It is our understanding that he is in jail for two years for the controlled substance of Yaba, a methamphetamine drug.

The sentences, for first offence, seem to be about one or two months for one pill. It goes up about an month a pill until you get to the one year term. Then, I'm told, it gets into years.

There are no recovery programs in Thailand so it's not "Jails, Institutions and Death". It is "Jails or Death". Jail is not a very good place to be either as it is not "three hots and a cot". It is sleep on the floor and eat just rice or be someone's bitch for better food.

That is one of the reasons there are so many "opium orphans", as I call them. They are kids of parents that commented suicide.

Daeng talked to me about a "farang" visiting a drug house in a remote village. The police may think I'm involved in drugs, also. Then they stop and search me but don't find anything and want to save face so they plant some. I go to jail and spend all the money we have getting me back out even though I'm Innocent.

I agreed with her as it is also a big part of the recovery programs: "Stay away from slippery people and slippery places." Like my Grand-Mother Johnson always said: "You can be guilty by association, too."

I just feel sorry for the kids and everyone else that was involve in this project as his arrest stopped the completion of the children's shelter, at least for now.

We were pretty beat when we came into Mae Sai but did stop to see friends, Peter and Nok, that were at the District Land Office filing a lease. We had a little talk and headed back to our guest house.

Tomorrow is another day, maybe it will be typical.

Myanmar (Burma) & United Wa State Army

We try not to get involved with the politics here at the border of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. I always need to remember that I am an invited guest here in the "Land of Smiles".

There is something happening in Myanmar (Burma) that you might be interested in.

First, read this story written for the New York Times about ten days ago. Just CLICK HERE for the story.

I verified it with some folks that know and the battle between the United Wa State Army and the Burmese (Myanmar) Army is gearing up, big time. You can read about what happened in August by CLICKING HERE.

You can read more News about this subject at http://shanland.org/. Click on the "NEWS" tab at the top left of page.

The fighting, I'm told, will be along the China border, several hundred kilometer north from here and on the other side of a high mountain range.

The high mountain range is the part that will keep us safe here in Mae Sai, Thailand.

To see the area that the expected battles will take place CLICK HERE.

Tachilek is the town on the other side of the little river from us in Myanmar. This town is noted for the supplying of methamphetamine pills called YABA.
Officials have reported enormous drug seizures in recent months, including one in August, 2009 of more than 1,600 pounds.

You can read more about YABA in Thailand by CLICKING HERE.

The massive quanities of heroin and other drugs, which are being sold for weapons money, are crossing the Thailand border here in northern Thailand; mostly above the City of Chiang Mai. That is a few hundred kilometers to the west of us.

I am told that the numbers (quantity of drugs and trafficking) in the stories above are probably very understated. Folks say the movement of drugs is higher than anyone here has ever seen before and this is the "Golden Triangle"!

Don't worry about us as we will stay safe.