Khun Sa (Chang Xi Fu)

            Khun Sa, the son of Lao Chang or Khun Sam, a Unanese man and Kam, a Shan lady. He graduated from a college in Tong Khi (in Myanmar). Before he was disappointed a colonel in 1963, Khun Sa was the chief of “ Ka kin Yae” (the Anti Shan United Army Unit) and later the chief of the Myanmar Intelligence Unit. Khun Sa has been very powerful in several trades, such as heroin, jade, and other gems and ivory, because of his people’s skills of heroin production and his strong guardians. In 1966, he was captured in Tong Khi and emprisoned in Myanmar for 7 years. He was free again after his close friend, Chang Xu Chien (Fa Lun) took two Russian doctors, who were sent to Myanmar from a Russian aid project as hostages in exchange of Khun Sa. This is why Khun Sa was able to join the Shan United Army (SUA) again. It is well known that in order to support his army. Khun Sa, the leader of the SUA, needs an important source of money from heroin trades, particularly in the Golden Triangle. Thus, he has been blamed from all over the world. Khun Sa, however, states that he realizes the harm of heroin to people world wide, but to exchange with the freedom of his country, the Shan State, he has to go on as can be seen from his statement as follows: “If I can get back to my country, eight million of my people will rejoice, but if I can stop the narcotic problem then the whole world will rejoice.” One of the greatest armed force during 1985-1986, Khun Sa’s Muang Tai Army laid down weapons and surrendered to the Burmese government. In turn, Khun Sa, the Heroin King and once Tai leader who is now living in Rangoon, received benefits from his business in the regions under his power. Khun Sa’s surrender caused the Tai army break apart into smaller less efficient group, under separate leader. While several separate groups successfully negotiated stop fires with the Burmese governments, Chao Yodsuak, the only minority leader is still fighting against the Burmese army in the central region of Shan state.