Who is afraid of Wa genius? – Thai PM cancels trip to Burma

DVB - December 23, 2003

Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra abandoned his planned one-day trip to a border region in Burma because of security concerns.

Thaksin had intended to travel by helicopter on December 26 with his Burmese counterpart, General Khin Nyunt to the town of Yong Kla in Northeast Shan State, across the border from northern Thailand, where the two were to inaugurate a new hospital and visit projects to substitute legal crops for opium growing.

The town is situated in territory controlled by Burma's Wa ethnic group. It is also the base of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the world's largest drug army.

Another representative will be sent in Thaksin's place, either a minister or deputy prime minister, it is reported.

A Thai advance team including a senior military commander is said to have travelled to the town on several occasions. "We found that only Wa troops took care of the area, while official Myanmar (Burmese) soldiers from Yangon (Rangoon) will be there only upon arrival of their prime minister," said a man who doesn’t want to be identified.

In March Thai authorities contended that UWSA commander Bao Youxiang (a Chinese?) had hired a hit man to kill Thaksin for about 1.9 million dollars due to his ruthless war on drugs. The ‘accused’ dismissed the charges as groundless.

The vast majority of methamphetamine pills that flood into Thailand each year are believed to be made in that area of Burma, while the reclusive state is also a major opium producer.

The Thai PM told reporters on 22 December that "something might happen to make me lose face" if he visits that area of Burma.