On October 5, 1999, five-year-old Nang Sap disappeared from her home in northeastern Burma. According to witnesses, she was kidnapped from her village by Burmese troops and taken to Ho Mong, in another part of Shan State. There, at midnight, she was allegedly walled up alive in the pagoda.

Not long after, a bad smell enveloped the area. Under the cover of darkness, villagers dug up its base. Inside, they allegedly found the bodies of three girls and six prisoners. They reported this to the authorities, but nothing was done.

Throughout Burma pagodas are places associated with great power. The tradition of placing holy relics inside, such as a hair of the Buddha, or a tooth, is centuries old. Black magic is still widely believed and practised. Often, bad or unclean things, such as soiled clothing or pubic hair, are said to have been placed inside these pagodas. This is believed to have the reverse effect of good karma a pagoda generates and ensures bad things come to those worshipping there.

Human sacrifice

Many people believe human sacrifice is still practised in Burma. During the days of the Burmese kings it was not uncommon for people to be sacrificed at the gates of walled cities in the belief their spirits would protect the inhabitants. Today many people believe sacrifices have been carried out at dams, bridges and even roads for protection against insurgents. The area where Nang Sap came from is still contested by the Shan and Burmese armies.

The Shan and the Burmese are old enemies and the Burmese are seen as an army of an occupation. Many important historical and cultural sites belonging to the Shan have been destroyed and Burmese-style pagodas built. Domination in these areas is not only cultural but spiritual and Nang Sap's story is seen as an example of enslavement of the people. It is also a tactic used to strike fear into the hearts of a traditional enemy.

It is impossible to confirm if the story of Nang Sap's sacrifice is true or not, partly because the area is still under Burmese Army control. But the Shan believe it and that gives it power.

Nang Sap's family has since moved to a refugee camp protected by the Shan State Army in Loi Tai Leng. Eight years after, her family was not able to discuss the girl's disappearance. Although they had heard people from various quarters confirm Nang Sap's fate, her mother, Nang Khi, remained traumatised, unable to utter her daughter's name.

Nic Dunlop is the author of 'The Lost Executioner', the tale of how he tracked down 'Duch', the notorious boss of Tuol Sleng, the Khmer Rouge  torture centre in Phnom Penh. Dunlop has been based in Bangkok for about 20 years.

By Nic Dunlop

Special to

Daily Xpress