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Burma-drugs : Burma rejects report



Subject: Burma-drugs : Burma rejects report that drug suspect    is in Rangoon

Burma-drugs : Burma rejects report that drug suspect
                            is in Rangoon

                            BANGKOK, March 26 (AFP) - Burma military
intelligence responded
                            indignantly Wednesday to a Thai newspaper report
that a suspect
                            wanted in connection with the largest ever US
seizure of heroin is
                            staying in Rangoon.

                            "Myanmar (Burma) has nothing to do with this
mess," the source
                            said in a fax received here.

                            The suspect, Li Yun-chung, alias Pongsak
Rogjanasakul, is
                            wanted in the United States for allegedly
masterminding heroin
                            shipments, including a record 486 kilogrammes
(1,069 pounds)
                            seized in California in 1991.

                            To the distress of US narcotics officials, he
was granted bail in
                            Thailand in February and failed to turn up in
court earlier this
                            month. Thai police reported that he has since
crossed into
                            northern Burma.

                            The Bangkok Post daily said Wednesday that Li
was now staying
                            in the Burmese capital with the knowledge of the
ruling military
                            junta and was unlikely to be returned to Thailand.

                            The report added that Li had once done business
with former
                            opium warlord Khun Sa.

                            Khun Sa surrendered to the Burmese government
early last year
                            and is reported to be living in Rangoon. The
junta has rejected US
                            calls for his extradition.

                            Commenting on the Post report, the military
intelligence source
                            said that "very conveniently and automatically
Myanmar (Burma)
                            becomes a scapegoat when there seems to be a
problem in the
                            world."

                            "The allegations are so ridiculous that Myanmar
does not think it is
                            worth refuting."

                            Burma's military government has been repeatedly
under fire,
                            particularly from the United States, for
allegedly failing to
                            clampdown on narcotics production and trafficking. 

                            Burma is the world's leading producer of opium
and its derivative
                            heroin.

                            mp/jd