Thaksin lauds Rangoon's drug effort

Published on Oct 11, 2002

Burma has won Thailand's praise for its crackdown on drugs following a huge heroin and speed-pills seizure.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday praised Burma for the recent seizure of more than 30 kilograms of heroin and five million methamphetamine tablets.

He said the military regime was sincere in its war on drugs.

Thaksin said he was convinced that the drugs were headed for Thailand.

He said Thailand would have to live with the fact that the ethnic and political troubles across the border would always be inextricably linked with drugs.

He added that Rangoon was not to blame for millions of methamphetamines flooding the Kingdom.

Thaksin said drug and opium warlords in Burma operated outside government jurisdiction. He said the junta should not be held accountable for their illicit activities.

Most drug armies, including the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Kokang Chinese, operate independently within their own territory under cease-fire agreements with the Rangoon government.

The UWSA, with headquarters in Panghsang, on the Chinese border, has expanded its territory. It has established villages and military installations along the Thai border.

The international com- munity has consistently condemned Burma for turning a blind eye to drug trafficking, as well as violations of human and labour rights.

Thaksin said Thailand was willing to help Burma enhance its international standing. Rangoon must continue its anti-narcotics efforts, he stipulated.

Drugs, said Thaksin, are "one thing that the Thai people cannot accept. This problem has gone on for too long."

The Nation

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