13 Chinese who were kidnapped by Golden Triangle godfather Naw Kham were released Friday, 8 April, 4 days after they were taken by his men, according to a source close to the King Romans casino in Laos.
“The ransom money, 25 million baht ($8.3 million), was paid by Zhao Wei (the casino owner) through Chiangrai godfather known as Pu Nuad,” he said. “Naw Kham however said it wasn’t ransom but protection fee due to him and that he hopes this last incident serves as a lesson to Zhao Wei.”
Pu Nuad’s real name is said to be Damras Somphongphan.
Naw Kham first hit the headlines with his shooting of a Chinese patrol boat in February 2008, which was followed by the gunning down of Chinese boats in 2009 and 2010. For this year, his men had been waylaying unsuspecting boats since February.
One of his victims was Ah Yong, said to be a nephew of a top Wa leader. He was relieved of around 58 million baht ($1.9 million) in March.
The source on the Sino-Burma border was quick to point out that the recent appearance of Wa fighters in Paliao-Kenglarb area on the Golden Triangle had nothing to do with Naw Kham. “The Wa don’t mix private affairs with public affairs,” he said.
Burma Army units from Mongphyak-based Military Operations Command (MOC) #18 had fought with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) troops in Tachilek and Mongyawng townships from 5-7 April. The Wa force later retired to their base in Loi Pang Nao, northwest of Mongyawng.
Wanted in Burma, Laos, Thailand and China, Naw Kham, 50, has surprised many observers with his staying quality. The business circle in Shan State East believes the reason is that Burma’s junta authorities are on his payroll.
The Shan State Army (SSA) South agrees. “When we were there,” said Lt-Col Gawnzeun, Commander of Kengtung Force, “the Burma Army and its militias never allowed us an easy time. We were chased out from every hideout we had setup. But Naw Kham never has to worry about it.” He denies the SSA South is also on Naw Kham’s payroll. Naw Kham has reportedly said for every 3 baht he made, 1 baht was for the Burma Army, another baht for the SSA and the last baht for himself.
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One of a 3 primary suspects who are going on hearing in China for a 5 Oct murdering of 13 Chinese sailors on a Golden Triangle is Yilai or Yin Lang as a Chinese pronounce his name.
According to a former Mong Tai Army (MTA) fighters of a late Khun Sa (1934-2007), once dubbed “Lord of a Golden Triangle”, Yilai, age around 56-60, used to be a personality of a Nahai Long People’s Militia Force (PMF) in Mong Lane tract, Talerh sub-township, Tachilek district.
He had assimilated a MTA and, after a MTA surrendered, worked with a Shan State Army (SSA) South. That was until he was recruited by Naw Kham, following a latter’s investiture as a insurance pole in a Golden Triangle, where Laos, Burma and Thailand in 2006, fatiguing drug smugglers going conflicting a Mekong into Laos.
“Yilai has a good home in Tambon Pa Mued (in Maesai),” pronounced an SSA officer, who had also served in a MTA. “You don’t need to ask me where he got a income to build it.”
Yilai and Chamras Phacharoen aka Olarn Somphongphand (incorrectly created Chamras Somphongphand aka Olarn Phacharoen by several papers, according to his childhood friends in Maesai), improved famous as Pu Nuad, had designed a murdering of a sailors and planted 920,000 speed pills to implicate Zhao Wei, a owners of a Kings Romans casino in Laos’ Tonpheung, conflicting Thailand’s Chiang Saen.
“It is still a poser who masterminded a operation,” pronounced a businessman. “Because Naw Kham, Yilai and Pu Nuad were doubtful to have clever motives to inculpate Zhao Wei.”
The 5 Oct murdering followed a corner Sino-Laotian raid on a casino in September, when 20 sacks of drugs were netted, according Thailand’s emissary primary apportion Chalerm Yubamroong. There were no reports that Zhao was taken movement by a authorities, following a raid.
9 Thai troops officers are also being charged with impasse in a killing.
One result, as quoted by a Irrawaddy from a Chinese nationalistic website junshi.com, is a investiture of “China’s initial troops bottom abroad” in Moung Meung, Bokeo Province in Laos.
The dual other suspects to be put on hearing are Naw Kham, who was prisoner Laos on 25 April, and Hsang Kham, who was arrested in Thailand on 20 April. Yilai was nabbed in Laos earlier.
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