Published: 30/09/2012 at 01:51 AM
Newspaper section: News
Mekong River drug lord Naw Kham who was convicted over the murder of 13 Chinese sailors earlier this month has accused his powerful supporters of abandoning him and denies he gave the orders for the executions, his sister says.
Nang Nyunt Aye said she spoke to her brother, who is being held in a prison in China's Yunnan Province, by telephone on Thursday night and Friday morning, and he again insisted he was not guilty of the killings on Oct 11, 2011, when two Chinese ships were ambushed near Chiang Saen.
A group of renegade Thai soldiers was also implicated in the killings but the Thai military has rejected Naw Kham's claims of their involvement.
He told his sister he had to take responsibility as leader of the gang and will accept the sentence the court hands down, which could mean the death penalty.
''He is disappointed and angry as he made a lot of money for many people but nobody visits him or helps him now he is in trouble,'' said Nang Nyunt Aye who claims her brother, born in Myanmar's Shan state, has Lao citizenship.
Naw Kham, 43, refused to name the powerful business, political and military figures behind him. He was a captain in the Mong Tai army of Opium King Khun Sa until he surrendered to the Myanmar military in 1996 after a career built around drug trafficking and violence, according to the 2012 ''Shan Drug Watch'' report.
Another report by the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), ''Hand in Glove'', says Naw Kham led a militia force which had close connections to the Myanmar military.
Regional security officers say Naw Kham benefited from his connections and, despite being an extortionist, major drug trafficker, kidnapper and racketeer, was able to evade arrest for more than a decade.
Nang Nyunt Aye said, despite reports he was extremely wealthy, he had only the equivalent of 5,000 baht and a gun on him when he was arrested in Laos in April this year along with other gang members who later testified against him.
''He said he's not rich,'' Nang Nyunt Aye said. ''After he extorted money from businesses he had to share the spoils with other gang members and the Burmese militia.''
She said: ''No one wants to know him any more _ he's now on his own''.
Newspaper section: News
Mekong River drug lord Naw Kham who was convicted over the murder of 13 Chinese sailors earlier this month has accused his powerful supporters of abandoning him and denies he gave the orders for the executions, his sister says.
Nang Nyunt Aye said she spoke to her brother, who is being held in a prison in China's Yunnan Province, by telephone on Thursday night and Friday morning, and he again insisted he was not guilty of the killings on Oct 11, 2011, when two Chinese ships were ambushed near Chiang Saen.
A group of renegade Thai soldiers was also implicated in the killings but the Thai military has rejected Naw Kham's claims of their involvement.
He told his sister he had to take responsibility as leader of the gang and will accept the sentence the court hands down, which could mean the death penalty.
''He is disappointed and angry as he made a lot of money for many people but nobody visits him or helps him now he is in trouble,'' said Nang Nyunt Aye who claims her brother, born in Myanmar's Shan state, has Lao citizenship.
Naw Kham, 43, refused to name the powerful business, political and military figures behind him. He was a captain in the Mong Tai army of Opium King Khun Sa until he surrendered to the Myanmar military in 1996 after a career built around drug trafficking and violence, according to the 2012 ''Shan Drug Watch'' report.
Another report by the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), ''Hand in Glove'', says Naw Kham led a militia force which had close connections to the Myanmar military.
Regional security officers say Naw Kham benefited from his connections and, despite being an extortionist, major drug trafficker, kidnapper and racketeer, was able to evade arrest for more than a decade.
Nang Nyunt Aye said, despite reports he was extremely wealthy, he had only the equivalent of 5,000 baht and a gun on him when he was arrested in Laos in April this year along with other gang members who later testified against him.
''He said he's not rich,'' Nang Nyunt Aye said. ''After he extorted money from businesses he had to share the spoils with other gang members and the Burmese militia.''
She said: ''No one wants to know him any more _ he's now on his own''.
