Bangkok Post News (19-3-99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

<bold>Speed pills 'brought via Haw village' Bases for producing
amphetamines set up 

</bold>

Cheewin Sattha and Subin Khuenkaew 

Mae Hong Son


The 1.02 million amphetamine pills seized in Hod district of Chiang Mai
on Sunday are believed to have been smuggled into the country through a
village in Muang district of Mae Hong Son by a Chinese Haw drug ring, a
source said yesterday.


The source in Mae Hong Son said the pills seized from Chalong Jaitham and
Sureeporn Katema in Hod might have been smuggled into Thailand via either
Ban Mae Or or Ban Rak Thai villages, about 60 kilometres from Muang
district.


The two villages which house former troops of Haw Division 93 are
believed to be gateways for amphetamines smuggled through a border pass
in Ban Mae Or Luang in Thailand and Ban Homong in the Shan state of
Burma.


An intelligence report said that there is at least one amphetamine
production base in Bang Mae Jae-Nam Mang. Speed pills from there are sold
at only 8-10 baht each. This drug production team also produces speed
pills with the WY Trademark (the same kind of the seized 1.02 million
amphetamine pills). The factory is directed by Sanda, a Red Karen group
leader, said the source.


The source added that police have given priority to a drug trafficking
route via Ban Huay Ton Noon in Khun Yuam district which is allegedly
being used by a retired chief inspector to smuggle millions of speed
pills into the country.


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Rangoon unwilling to let dying Aris in

Thailand to keep out of " political " issue


Burma said yesterday it was reluctant to let Aung San Suu Kyi's
cancer-stricken husband visit her but it tried to goad the Nobel laureate
into flying to his sickbed despite fears she would be barred from
returning.


A visa application from Michael Aris, who is reportedly seriously ill
after prostrate cancer spread to his spine and lungs, was under
consideration, a government statement said.


However, authorities were "surprised" Mr Aris, a British academic, wanted
to visit Burma in his Grave condition.


"To undertake a trip to Myanmar under such conditions would appear
irresponsible and inhumane and the government is reluctant to encourage
or endorse such an action,"said the statement.



As a more sensible alternative, the government of Myanmar suggests that
Ms Suu Kyi,who is in perfect health, travel to England to her husband's
dying wish to see her."


Opposition leader Mrs Suu Kyi is very unlikely to seek permission to
travel to Britain to say a final goodbye to her husband, sources in
Rangoon told AP yesterday.


They said she feared that due to her bitter political struggle with
Burma's military rulers,she would be barred from returning to the
country.


"The government would certainly allow Aunt San Sue KY to leave and would
give her a passport," said one source familiar with the case.


But the question is whether she would be allowed back."


Mrs Sue KY remained "dedicated"to the cause of democracy and would not
risk being kept out of Burma, the sources said.


the statement issued in Rangoon said the government learned with "great
sadness"that Mr Aries was seriously ill.


Officials were reviewing his visa application,it added.


Mr Aries is reported to be hospitalised in Britain and close to death
after prostrate cancer spread to his spine and lungs. 


Britain, Australia and Japan have asked the government to grant him a
visa on humanitarian grounds,sources in Rangoon side.


Thailand will not ask Burma to grant a visa for the British husband of
Mrs Sue KY to visit her because the problem is "political"the foreign
ministry said yesterday,


"It is difficult for Thailand to intervene because this is a 
political,not a humanitarian problem,"spokesman Don pramudwinai said of
the cause of Mr Aris.


At the same time,a foreign ministry official said that Thailand had made
no formal request to the Burmese government although published reports
have named Thailand as among countries that had appealed to Rangoon to
grant Mr Aris a visa.


But the official did not rule out the possibility that an informal
approach might have been made by a politician during recent visits to
Bangkok by Burmese Prime Minister Win Aung.


The British embassy in Rangoon refused to give comment yesterday.


Prior to his illness, Mr Aries had several visa requests refused by the
government,which has claimed he interfered in politics in Rangoon, the
sources said.He was last in the country between December 18, 1995 and
January 16, 1996.  

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