Alleged kingpin of Mekong River massacre changes his tune
Myanmese drug gang leader says Thai soldiers were responsible for killing 13 sailors, not the six foreigners who are on trial in Kunming
The accused Myanmese ringleader of a Mekong River hijacking that resulted in the murder of 13 Chinese sailors disputed the charges yesterday as six foreign nationals stood trial in Kunming, Yunnan.
Naw Kham and five others from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand are facing charges of intentional homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking stemming from the October 5 attack on two Chinese cargo ships.
On the first of what is expected to be a three-day trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Kunming, prosecutors said Naw Kham, 43, planned and executed the attack. He also placed drugs on the hijacked boats to mislead investigators.
The victims - several blind-folded and shot - were found on the cargo ships by local authorities after a gun battle with the hijackers near Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.
Prosecutors accuse Naw Kham of running one of the most notorious gangs in the infamous Golden Triangle drug-trafficking area. One witness described him as the gang's "godfather", Xinhua said.
But Naw Kham has blamed nine Thai soldiers who are expected to face trial in Thailand over allegations of their involvement.
"The case was done by the Thailanders. After it happened, I only learnt about it on TV," he was quoted by the China News Services as saying. "I didn't go with them. They made the decision and went without me."