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AFP-Myanmar junta lies again Thai d



Subject: AFP-Myanmar junta lies again Thai drug smuggling allegations

Myanmar junta blasts Thai drug smuggling allegations
YANGON, Aug 6 (AFP) - Myanmar's junta on Friday blasted as "totally baseless
and false" allegations that it is involved in drug trafficking following a
major Thai anti-narcotics offensive in the Golden Triangle.
Junta officials called a special press conference to denounce allegations
that Yangon is involved in the drugs trade and was supporting former drug
lord Khun Sa.

"We are obliged to arrange this special press conference to refute these
irresponsible accusations which not only undermine the Myanmar government's
sincere efforts to eradicate the drug menace but cause undesirable
misunderstanding," junta spokesman Colonel Thein Swe said.

Office of Strategic Studies chief Brigadier General Kyaw Win said the claims
were just another attempt by unnamed groups to unfairly discredit Myanmar.

"As their usual tactic of using human rights and democracy issues to
discredit us did not appear to be making headway, they are obviously turning
back to the old drug issue," he said.

He was apparently referring to the opposition National League for Democracy
party under Aung San Suu Kyi, which along with most of the international
community blames the junta for gross human rights abuses.

Myanmar is also repeatedly accused of being a major producer of heroin and
amphetamines and is a regular near the top of US government lists of
"narco-states" along with Afghanistan.

The junta blames ethnic insurgent groups for the problem and says it is
doing everything in its power to eliminate the trade.

The Thai media recently carried reports saying former Myanmar drug czar Khun
Sa, who surrendered to the junta in 1996 and has since lived in luxury in
Yangon, was back in the drugs business.

The reports came amid a huge Thai army and police sweep of suspected
trafficking routes in northern Thailand's border with Myanmar, part of the
notorious Golden Triangle drug producing zone.

About 800 troops and police conducted a village-to-village sweep over
several weeks, arresting one suspected trafficking middleman and seizing a
record haul of amphetamines and heroin on its way into Thailand from
Myanmar.


Thai officials said the drugs were being produced by the Myanmar-based
United Wa State Army, an ethnic group which signed a peace deal with the
junta several years ago in exchange for a sort of autonomy.

Thein Swe said Khun Sa now focused on gem mining under "full security" from
the junta.

"Khun Sa has stuck to the conditions we imposed on him when he
unconditionally surrendered. He has stayed away from drugs," he said.

The junta also used Friday's press conference to "launch" a 15-year
anti-narcotics programme which was first announced earlier this year.

Its aim is to eradicate the drugs trade in Myanmar by 2014.

"Since the beginning of 1999 we have seized 13.66 million stimulant tablets,
3,867.6 kilos (8,508.7 pounds) of ephedrine and 12,433 gallons (47,245.4
liters) of various chemicals," Thein Swe said.