Ban Santisuk, located
between Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai and Mae
Ai and Fang districts of Chiang Mai, has more than 1,000 residents.
They include Chinese Haw, Wa, I-kor and Shan people. The majority farm
crops or raise animals. Others operate resorts on Doi Mae Salong,
restaurants, elephant houses, trekking tours or other businesses.
A number of villagers have been blacklisted by the Office of the
Narcotics Control Board for being involved in the methamphetamine
trade and sheltering Red Wa guerrillas from Mong Yawn of Burma, who
are believed to smuggle the drugs into Thailand.
In the past, when the village was small, it was under the supervision
of Li Yi Sing, a woman who played a leading role in helping Thai
authorities clear obstacles for construction of several roads along
the border in Phetchabun, Pua district of Nan, and Chiang Kham
district of Phayao about 20 years ago.
After that, the community was officially declared a village and power
changed hands to Banyen Wachirabanpotkul, Mrs Li's adopted daughter,
who is now village headman.
In recent years, drug problems in the area have intensified, prompting
drug officials to keep a close watch on movements in the village-as
well as on Mrs Li and Mrs Banyen.
According to a report by a military intelligence unit, Mrs Li has jade
mining and jewellery businesses with partners from neighbouring
countries, including the Red Wa and the Burmese. Some Red Wa leaders
are shareholders of the businesses.
"Red Wa leaders are given shelter every time a large shipment of speed
pills is smuggled into the village, before being delivered to
customers," a source said.
Though authorities had information about Mrs Li's close ties with some
Red Wa leaders, no action has been taken because of the lack of clear
evidence, the source added.
Officials suspect Mrs Li's investments in tourism and farming, and her
transfers of money to many villagers' and foundation bank accounts,
might be methods of money laundering.
A senior official of Mae Chan district who requested anonymity
admitted that Ban Santisuk was used by the Red Wa to launder dirty
money.
Mrs Banyen has denied her family and most villagers are engaged in the
drug trade. She says she is just a village headman, not an influential
figure, and is ready to face an investigation.
"If we were involved in drugs how could we have lasted until today? We
run pig farms and do jobs on hire. We have nothing to do with the
smuggling of speed pills, but I admit some villagers might have been
involved," she said.
"We run a jade mining business so we are richer than other villagers
and our comfort is partly the result of assistance from Taiwan. We
did not know that any Red Wa leader had a house here until soldiers
raided the house," she said.
However, the Northern Narcotics Control Centre said Mrs Li's house,
which is also her office, has some suspicious items-such as a
satellite dish that she claims to use as a source of information.