Wei Hsaitang, who was arrested early last year, has been sentenced to 75 years imprisonment, said a Shan businessman in Tachilek, quoting Wa sources.

Two days before the Wa crisis meeting on 7 July, Wei was seen paraded around in the Wa capital of Panghsang in a truck. The former commander of Mongyawn, who is also known as Ta Htang, was then lashed to a wooden cross in front of the United Wa State Army’s supreme headquarters, he said.

He received 30 years for the killing of 6 subordinates who opposed his plan to mutiny and 45 years for manufacturing counterfeit Chinese and Burmese banknotes. Ta Poy, his former assistant, got 20 years. “Sources, who are close relatives of Wei and Bao Youxiang (the supreme leader), said there were also 1 westerner and 2 Hong Kong men who were given 10 years each,” he added.

Wei, former commander of the crack Independent Regiment (Duli tuan) and, just before his arrest, commander of 417th Division, was a rival to Wei Hsuehkang, commander of 171th Military Region who is no blood relation of his. Wei’s younger brother is Hsuehying, who is responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the military force along the Thai border.

“Rangoon authorities had requested Panghsang that Ta Htang be turned over to them,” he said. “But the Wa leadership simply refused to comply.”