CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (ANS) -- Deep in the dense opium fields of the Golden Triangle, a young girl escaped marriage to notorious drug warlord Khun Sa, but instead found herself delivered as a bride to the son of his successor. This is her story as she journeyed from heroin heartland to the freedom of a new life:

NOTHING in the expression of 22-year-old housekeeper Naing (not real name) revealed her colorful past. Doe-eyed and perky, the ex-teenage bride from a drug warlord’s empire easily blended unnoticed into the crowd at the busy market in the ancient Thai capital of Chiang Mai. Her naïve smile and slim, slightly-built frame gave no hint of her origins in the ruthless opium-churning regime of Indochina – the Khun Sa fiefdom.

Early Days

Naing was born in the eastern Myanmar border town of Tachileik, the youngest of four daughters of a Shan family. Her earliest memories revolved around the jungle playground of Khun Sa’s infamous narcotics empire in the early 1990s; where her oldest sister was given to the Opium King at 15 years old – as the latest addition to his burgeoning harem. At almost 60, he was three times her age. That arrangement worked well economically for Naing’s family. Once elevated as relatives of the drug baron, they were not denied any luxury despite the fact they lived inaccessible lives in the jungles of the Thai-Myanmar border.

“We had houses in several cities as well as in the jungle. Our jungle community was equipped with satellite TV, schools and high-tech ammunition. Soldiers became our servants, drivers and gardeners, tending our farms with ducks, vegetables and fish,” recalled the dewy-complexioned housemaid. Her family also enjoyed dual Thai-Burmese identification which gave them access between the porous border and property ownership in both countries.

Drug Kingdom

At the height of his power in the 1980s, military separatist Khun Sa was believed to have controlled at least 70% of the heroin trade in the Golden Triangle – an area straddling the Thai-Burma-Laos border. This accounted for an estimated 45% of the heroin entering the U.S.A, which led to a USD$2 million bounty for his capture. The Opium King had once offered to sell 1,000 tonnes of heroin to the USA government, proposing that by doing so, the drugs will not enter the international narcotics market. He was indicted in a New York court in 1989.

Khun Sa “surrendered” to Myanmar authorities in 1996 and retired quietly in Yangon until his death in 2007 at the age of 73. “Even though he was convicted, Khun Sa still walked around like a free man, he would roam the beach and town. He had bodyguards and his car was tinted, while others weren’t. One thing he could not do was leave the country. He was a wanted man all over the world, and he chose to stay in Myanmar because he was powerful there,” Naing explained.

Sunset of an Empire

Ignoring the US government’s hefty price on his head, the drug mogul lived in relative peace and luxury during his final years, surrounded by the women of his choice. Naing’s sister was not part of the chosen retinue. Running out of favour with an ageing warlord in the twilight of his reign, Naing’s family realized their comfortable lives were about to end abruptly. Khun Sa’s more senior and experienced wives were already eyeing his vast investments, while his henchmen waited to succeed his expansive opium empire.

Ranked low in seniority, Naing’s family were no match for the veteran wives who quickly carved his fortune and left little for their juniors. “When Khun Sa died, his other consorts and relatives took control of his estate and my teenaged sister was left with nothing,” said Naing, “even her dual Thai identification was confiscated.”

Meanwhile, another ethnic minority group, the Wa, rose to power forming the United Wa State Army (UWSA), picking up from where Khun Sa left off. However, they “did not have as much authority as Khun Sa, as they operated under the thumb of the Burmese authorities,” said Naing.

Being a child bride

“After Khun Sa’s ‘surrender’, a successor took over his position. His son came and looked for me. We started a physical relationship.”

In an effort to salvage their lot and secure their family position, Naing, now 15, was offered as a bride to the son of the new heroin honcho.

“This man’s son went to my mom and asked for me,” she said. “My mom did not stop him. We hung out and slept together many times. At that time I was naïve and he was 10 years older. He never mentioned he had a wife in Chiangmai. One day his wife came back, and he started avoiding me. But I had grown very attached to him. I became crazy just wanting him.

“I started to go out late nights drinking, and sleeping with another man just to prove my own worth. I cried for days and contemplated suicide,” said Naing, who by then had three older sisters hooked on drugs and a mentally-ill father. However, Naing’s attempted suicide came to naught when the sleeping pills she took from her father’s medication stash turned out expired and useless.

Starting Over

“My parents discovered my attempt on my life but kept quiet. Later, they sent me to Chiang Mai to study. My niece and her adopted sister came along as well. Since I was the oldest at 16, I was appointed to handle the finances.”

It was a difficult time for the three young girls to start living on their own. “When we were rich, we did not bother with each other, and when all three of us were forced to live in one room, our attitude became worse. We could not see eye to eye on when to sleep and clean up, nor had respect for each other.” Her niece went back home to Myanmar, while the other girl eloped with a man.

Freedom from the past

To make things worse, Naing was forced to drop out of University after one semester as she was unable to pay tutorial fees. She started to drift from one job to another. After short stints scooping ice-cream in Haagen Dazs and sitting behind the city’s many guesthouse receptions, she met Jesus, found solace in Christianity and decided to take stock of her life.

“I want to have freedom from mood swings and memories of the past,” her tone resolute. As a live-in domestic helper, her employer allows her flexible hours to pursue an Economics course and a t-shirt business. She cleans and cooks twice a week, managing income-generating projects on the side.

“This is my fresh start.” She got up to clear the cutlery on the table. “God willing, I will use the most of my second chance, and give back to the community.”

Note: This story was first published in The Star, Malaysia, Nov 2nd, 2009)
 

Michelle MY Chan is a freelance journalist, photographer and documentary filmmaker based in Malaysia.