Many are quick to point fingers at possible drug link to 24 March bomb explosions that injured at least 2-5 and might have killed a 10 year old boy, but few of them are willing to seek other possible motives, like the day of the bomb blasts coinciding with the anniversary of the earthquake that had killed up to 200 people, according to sources in Shan State East.
According to official bulletin, the 6.8 Richter scale tremors had killed 63 people and injured 106 more, while destroying 390 houses, 9 government buildings and 58 temples/ schools.

The government had provided assistance to victims whose homes were totally destroyed: either building new houses for them or giving 1.5 million kyat ($1,875) each to rebuild by themselves.




“The government built houses, about 50% of the total houses destroyed, are completed, “said the aid worker. “But most of the houses, rebuilt by the victims themselves are yet to complete.”

A large number of the victims are still in shock, according to a health worker. “One woman who had forced her son to return to the temple, where he had been ordained as a novice, only to see him killed by its collapse while on her way out, is still a state of trauma,” he said. “And there are many others like her.”

According to Bangkok Post, 5 people including 2 Thais, were injured in the blast. One 10-year old boy, who was a son of the hotel worker, was also killed.

The golf course where the blasts took place is next to the Regina Hotel and Golf Club.

According to the secretary of the Tachilek administrative authority, only two were wounded, reported Express Times, a paper based in Rangoon.

The two were U Zaw Min, 33, and U Kabya, 32. However, a witness say another was wounded superficially.

The bombs were known as home-made “soap bombs”. Area Commander Col Khin Maung Soe was quoted as saying they were similar to the ones recently confiscated outside Tachilek by the army.

“I haven’t heard speculations about connection to the drug trade,” said an informed businessman. “Most are saying it could be linked to dissatisfaction in the army, or among the Regina Hotel staff. But a few are mentioning possible link to the earthquake victims, among whom are relatives of the local militias.”