The BurmaNet News: July 26, 1999

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 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: July 26, 1999
Issue #1322

Noted in Passing: "Burma is being two-faced, giving us a pledge during a
meeting that it will help suppress narcotics along the border area, and
then acting otherwise." - Officer of the Thai National Narcotics Operation
Centre (see THE BANGKOK POST: RANGOON'S TROOPS ACTIVE IN DRUG TRADE") 

HEADLINES:
==========
BKK POST: RANGOON'S TROOPS ACTIVE IN DRUG TRADE 
BBC: BURMA DENIES DRUG ALLEGATIONS 
BKK POST: KHUN SA HELD TALKS WITH HIS WA ADVERSARY 
NATION: BURMA SAYS KHUN SA IS STILL RETIRED 
NLM: PEACE BECOMES MORE RADIANT IN KAYAH STATE 
NLM: THAN SHWE ACCEPTS CREDENTIALS OF UK AMBASSADOR 
MIZZIMA: "WE DON'T DEPORT BURMESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS"
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THE BANGKOK POST: RANGOON'S TROOPS ACTIVE IN DRUG TRADE 
25 July, 1999 by Sermsuk Kasitipradit and Wassana Nanuaam 

"HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE ENDURE THIS?"

The Burmese military is directly involved in the influx of millions of
methamphetamine pills into Thailand and has given direct support to the
United Wa State Army (UWSA) in producing the drug for export, a
high-ranking officer of the National Narcotics Operation Centre said
yesterday. 

"The Burmese military has played an active role behind the UWSA's
production of speed pills along our common border. 

"They have set a target to produce 200 million amphetamine tablets for
export to our country this year," the officer said. 

About 18 million pills had been seized in Thailand during the past six
months. 

The UWSA is regarded as the biggest drug producer in the Golden Triangle, a
border area where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. 

The officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said Burmese forces
provided protection for the movement of speed pills from inside Burma to
the border area, and UWSA troops escorted them further inside Thailand for
delivery. 

"Burma is being two-faced, giving us a pledge during a meeting that it will
help suppress narcotics along the border area, and then acting otherwise. 

"The drug problem along the border area is getting very serious because
Burma is not sincere," he said. 

"The army is very concerned and will not stand idle if Burma does not
change its two-faced policy," he said. 

Several drug laboratories believed to be controlled by the UWSA were
destroyed by Thai troops in cross-border raids earlier this month. 

Army chief Gen Surayud Chulanond yesterday also expressed concern over the
drug problem, and the UWSA's involvement, following a two-day inspection
trip to the border. 

Although optimistic that the problem could be settled by negotiation, he
did not rule out the use of force. 

"We are deeply concerned with the situation there, but cannot say much. It
is easy to go to war, but it would be a hard fight. 

"Before we do that we have to think hard, since we need quite a lot of
things. 

"But we will opt for negotiation first," the army chief said. 


Gen Surayud said foreign relations was a complicated matter, but he felt
it was illogical to be nice to a country which had no good intentions
toward Thailand. 

"We will be nice to them if they treat us nicely. But if they play tricks
with us, then we will not be so nice to them," he said. 

Gen Surayud said he wanted to see the reduction in the flow of amphetamine
tablets into Thailand from "200 million to 20 tablets". 

He wanted the temporary check-point at Ban Santondu closed. 

Gen Surayud said annual income from trade through Ban Santondu was
estimated at 66 million baht. 

At least 6,000 Thais were employed in the UWSA-controlled area building
dams and other infrastructure. 

Even so, he doubted it was worth keeping the checkpoint open. 

"Is it worth sucking out our own blood, for sale? 

"Selling them our construction materials in return for their drug money,
while their own people are not addicted to drugs?  How long can we endure
this until we become emancipated and pale?" the army chief added. 

*****************************************************

BBC: BURMA DENIES DRUG ALLEGATIONS
25 July, 1999 

The military authorities in Burma have denied the latest allegations from
Thai officials that they've been involved in the smuggling of millions of
amphetamine pills into Thailand. 

Reports from Bangkok quoted drugs officials just back from the border as
saying that the Burmese military were actively supporting the United Wa
State Army, believed to be one of the main drug trafficking organisations
in the Golden triangle. 

A Burmese spokesman said the country was trying to suppress drug
trafficking and production.  

*****************************************************

THE BANGKOK POST: KHUN SA HELD TALKS WITH HIS WA ADVERSARY
24 July, 1999 by Subin Khuenkaew 

Wei Hsueh-kang of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has met Khun Sa, his
former boss and bitter enemy, in Rangoon. 

The meeting, arranged by Burmese authorities under whose protection Khun Sa
has been living since his surrender in early 1996, took place in April,
sources said. 

Border observers who had heard rumours of the meeting soon after it was
held reacted differently. 

Some dismissed it as impossible while others speculated on the possibility
of the two teaming up and the catastrophic results it might bring to mostly
young people targetted by drug traffickers. 

Speculation faded in the absence of a follow-up to the meeting until last
Tuesday when a former senior member of Khun Sa's defunct Mong Tai Army
entered UWSA territory for talks, a source said, with "leaders from the
other side [of the border]". 

An adopted son of Khun Sa, now living in Thailand, said nothing concrete
came out of the April talks but that nearly all of Khun Sa's former
lieutenants were informed. 

He declined to say what he would do if Wei, named by Thai and United States
authorities as the most powerful drug lord in the Golden Triangle, teamed
up with Khun Sa. 

He said it was a big question for all of Khun Sa's former lieutenants,
engaged in businesses both legal and illegal in Thailand and in Shan State,
and former soldiers now with the Shan State Army, which continues to fight
the Rangoon regime. 


"Phor tao couldn't immediately recognise Wei," he said, using the Shan
word for elder, which is often applied to Khun Sa. "He had to be reminded
who Wei was." He said Wei, who was Khun Sa's accountant in the 1970s,
apologised to his former boss for "all he did to him". Wei and his two
brothers joined Khun Sa's Shan United Army in Ban Hin Taek, which was
renamed Ban Therd Thai after the 1982 US-funded operation to get rid of
Khun Sa. 

Wei was reported to have embezzled money from his boss and was jailed.
However, he escaped and joined his two brothers to start their own drug
business which expanded to rival that of Khun Sa by the early 1990s. 

Wei joined the UWSA when it was formed in 1989 and was an important figure
in the military offensive along the Thai-Shan border which contributed to
Khun Sa's demise in 1996. 

The adopted son said Khun Sa did not react when Wei apologised. 

He said the two talked about developments along the stretch of Thai-Shan
border formerly under Khun Sa's control and since 1996, under the UWSA,
including the booming town of Mong Yawn, opposite Ban San Ton Du, Mae Ai
district, Chiang Mai, the site of the fiercest battle between the two sides. 

Zarm Herng, Khun Sa's eldest son, who was put in charge of Ho Mong when his
father surrendered, is rumoured to have linked up with the ethnic Wa two
years ago in drugs trafficking. 

*****************************************************

THE NATION: BURMA SAYS KHUN SA IS STILL RETIRED 
24 July, 1999 

REUTERS 

Burma yesterday rejected as "speculation" Thai narcotics officials' claims
that retired Golden Triangle drug baron Khun Sa was back in business and
said he was clean and being made a scapegoat. 

Burmese officials said Khun Sa had given up his lucrative trade after
surrendering to the Burmese military government four years ago and now
lived in Rangoon under the protection of the military. 

There have been reports alleging the government of [Burma] is involved in
drug trafficking. Now the allegation is back to Khun Sa. It is quite
surprising how quickly people can jump to conclusions based on
speculation," a government statement said. 

Statements by Thai officials that there are signs Khun Sa is involved again
in drugs are not helpful in the drug-eradication scheme which the
government was implementing with international cooperation", the Burmese
statement said. 

"In a way it sounds merely like making a scapegoat out of the man who had
washed his hands of drugs," it added. 

[ ... ]

*****************************************************

NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: PEACE BECOMES MORE RADIANT IN KAYAH STATE 
24 July, 1999 

Secretary-1 sounds-warning of dangers to peace 

NLD still pursuing confrontation for utter devastation 

Attempting to divide Tatmadaw to get power by short cut 

Trying to divide national race organizations to break national solidarity 

State shall always strive for everlasting national solidarity

YANGON, 23 July - A ceremony to mark exchange of arms for peace by the
members led by Commander U Goeri of Kayinni National Development Party of
Hoya Region was held at City Hall in Loikaw, Kayah [Karenni] State, this
morning, with an address by Chairman of Work Committee for Development of
Border Areas and National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin  Nyunt.


At 7.15 am, Hoya Region Commander of Kayinni National Development Party
took positions in Kandara-wady sports ground in Loikaw for attending the
ceremony to exchange arms for peace.

Then, Hoya Region Commander U Goeri and members of Kayinni National
Development Party marched from the sports ground to the City Hall of
Loikaw. They were accorded a rousing welcome by service personnel, nurses,
teachers and students, USDA members, Red Cross and Fire Brigade members,
MCWA members, members of Kayah State Committee for Women's Affairs, members
of traditional cultural troupe and local people along the route.

Hoya Region Commander U Goeri and members of Kayinni National Development
Party took the places in the City Hall at 8 am. The Secretary-1 delivered
an address.

In his concluding address, the Secretary-1 heartily welcomed the Kayaw
national race group led by U Goeri which returned to the legal fold, saying
the State will discharge the duty of ensuring firm and secure life for them
and will enable them to live peacefully in the warm embrace of the
government. He urged the people to render assistance for the remaining
armed groups in Kayah State to return to the legal fold. He thanked the
peace negotiators and urged all to strive for Myanmar to become modern and
developed soonest. Commander Brig-Gen Myint Thein then gave a speech.

Brig-Gen Myint Thein said he warmly welcomed the 113 members of Kayinni
National Development Party led by U Goeri who had exchanged arms for peace
inviting the remnants of the armed group to follow suit if they have real
wish to serve the well-being of the regional people.

U Goeri made a speech. He gave a vote of thanks. He said that they had been
engaged in the armed insurrection for development of their national race
group and that though time passed, they had not done much for their own
people except serving the interest of just a small group of people.

Though they had made peace, they became deviated from the course due to
various intra-party problems, he said and added that they heard that other
groups, after having made peace, now carry out development project for
their regions.

He said that due to the results of peace in other regions and encouragement
by local people and peace negotiators, they decided to return to the legal
fold.

Fully trusting the State leaders, they have exchanged arms for peace
leaving their family members in danger, he said and made an ardent request
for resettlement of their families and implementation of projects for
development of their region.

He stated that due to difficult access and lack of preparations, there were
only 113 members and expressed belief that there would be more coming in
future.

He expressed hope that as their region would develop the rest would follow
their example, and expressed thanks to the state leaders for giving them a
hearty warm welcome and made a solemn promise that they would strive their
utmost joining hands with the government for regional development and
security.

U Goeri presented arms and his men to Brig-Gen Myint Thein. Brig-Gen Myint
Thein presented gifts to U Goeri. Secretary-l, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt cordially
met with U Goeri and peace negotiators.


*****************************************************

NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR: SPDC SENIOR GENERAL  THAN SHWE ACCEPTS CREDENTIALS OF
AMBASSADOR OF UNITED KINGDOM
22 July, 1999 

YANGON, 21 July - Dr John Jenkins LVO, newly accredited Ambassador of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Union of
Myanmar, presented his credentials to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of
the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, at Dagon
Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 9.30 am today. Also present on the
occasion were Secretary,-l of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and
Director-General of the Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.

*****************************************************

MIZZIMA: "WE DON'T DEPORT BURMESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS" 
24 July, 1999 by Staff Reporter 

In an interview with MIZZIMA, Mr. Zoramthanga, Chief Minister of Mizoram
said yesterday that Mizoram Government is not pushing back any Burmese
pro-democracy activist to Burma. "We welcome them ... .  We are not pushing
those Burmese democracy activists at all. The people we pushed (back) are
smugglers", responded Mr. Zoramthanga when asked on a reported statement of
Mizoram Home Minster on the deportation of Burmese from Mizoram. According
to a PTI report, Mr. Tawnluia, Home Minister of Mizoram had told the State
Assembly on July 20 that Mizoram government deported 448 Burmese nationals
between December 1998 and June 1999. 

About a hundred of Burmese pro-democracy activists have taken shelter in
Mizoram State of India since the 1988 military coup in Burma. Moreover,
there are estimated 5,000 Burmese immigrants working as handloom weavers,
taxi drivers and maids in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram. "When the police saw
them (Burmese), they took them to Champhai border and left them at the
border river bank. But the Burmese came back (to Aizawl) the next day",
said Mr. Zoramthanga as it is a usual work of the Mizoram police. 

Expressing the worry of the State Government on the situation of
infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Chief minister, however said, "We are
really worried about (the people from) Bangladesh. We don't care much about
the Burma side because they are our blood brothers and sisters. But we
don't welcome Chakmas from Bangladesh". 

Seventy five percent of Mizoram is an international border with Burma and
Bangladesh. The Mizoram government has recently started identifying foreign
settlers in the state. It has also approached the Indian central government
to provide one battalion of Prevention of Infiltration Force (IPF) to
counter the "infiltrators". The central government has provided only one
battalion of Indian Reserve Police for the Mizoram State. 

The Chief Minister, moreover, urged the Chin National Front (CNF) to leave
arms and live like other civilians in the cities. "I told them that you can
live without your arms. You will be tolerated. But when you wear uniforms
and hold arms, that is illegal. This cannot be tolerated from law and order
point of view", said the Chief Minister. Recently, the (Indian) Assam
Rifles had attacked CNF mobile camps situated inside Mizoram State. Chin
National Front (CNF) is one of the armed groups, which is still fighting
against the military regime in Burma. 


Regarding the opening of border trade between Mizoram State and Burma, the
Chief Minister said that there is no new development though the trade has
been more or less going on in a smuggling form. The Government of India is
currently building infrastructure in the Mizoram border for opening the
trade between Champhai of Mizoram State and Burma. "I think it (trade) will
start after one year", said Mr. Zoramthanga.

*****************************************************