[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

SCMP-SPDC Troops accused of helping



Subject: SCMP-SPDC Troops accused of helping to smuggle drugs into Thailand

South China Morning Post
Monday, July 26, 1999

BURMA

Troops accused of helping to smuggle drugs into Thailand
AGENCIES in Bangkok
Furious Thai officials have accused Burmese troops of helping to funnel
hundreds of millions of amphetamines into Thailand, a report quoting a
senior anti-drugs officer said yesterday.
But Rangoon strongly denied the allegations.

"It is really very regretful as well as amazing to learn how the responsible
Thai narcotics officials can come up with such irresponsible statements
accusing the Burma military of being involved in the drug trade," a Burmese
government spokesman said.

The Bangkok Post said military officers were supporting the minority United
Wa State Army (UWSA), one of the biggest suppliers of drugs in the Golden
Triangle region of parts of Thailand, Burma and Laos.

"The [Burmese] military has played an active role behind the UWSA's
production of speed pills along our common border," the paper quoted a high
ranking officer of the National Narcotics Operation Centre as saying.

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

"The drug problem along the border is getting very serious because [Burma]
is not sincere," said the officer, who was not named.

He accused the Government in Rangoon of being "two-faced" by pledging to
fight narcotics production while it was acting otherwise.

The Thai army chief, General Surayud Chulanond, said after a recent trip to
the border with Burma in northwestern Thailand that Thai officials were
closely watching the activities of drug lords.

"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 that we have to think hard . . . we will opt for negotiation first,"
the Bangkok Post quoted him as saying.

There was no immediate comment by Burmese officials on these allegations.

Thai and Burmese narcotics officials had a meeting earlier this year at
which they agreed to synchronise their fight against drugs.

Thai security officials said recently they would make "no more compromise"
with drug lords as they announced the start of a major police and army
operation along the border.

Narcotics smugglers risk being shot on sight in an operation involving 800
officers, backed by air and artillery support along the border in Chiang Mai
and Chiang Rai provinces.

Thai officials have accused Burmese authorities of failing to adequately
control border areas.

They say the roofs of amphetamine factories are clearly visible from the
Thai side.