Drugs

A casualty of increased pressure on armed resistance groups along the border by the Thai government happens to be the rupture in the monitoring of drugs across the border, according to a Karen commander.

"Even my movements are being restricted," said Lt-Col Nerdah Mya, Commander of the 201st Battalion, Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of Karen National Union. "In the past, we were able to keep all the drug activities along the border under surveillance and keep the Thai authorities informed. Now that the relations have been downgraded, we are getting less and less access to our sources of information."

The Thai media reported in 2001 a number of Thai army seizures of drugs opposite Tak province. In April 2001 alone, the total haul was 13.7 million speed pills and 4.5 kg of heroin. Thai security officials privately credited Karen rebels for their timely and accurate intelligence.

Likewise, the Shan State Army's counter-narcotics operations had been impaired by rising Thai restriction, according to Shan rebel sources. "In the past, the SSA had been able to expose Burmese commanders' involvement in drugs," commented one officer, who requested anonymity. "Maybe their so-called friends in Bangkok were not too happy about the disclosures."

"I would like Thai leaders to rethink carefully," added Nerdah, who also happened to be the son of Karen rebels' celebrated commander, Bo Mya, "before they decided to ditch us. Are they confident of finding in the junta truer friends than us?"

The Thai police seized 500,000 methamphetamine pills coming from Mongyawn, opposite Chiangmai's Mae Ai. Mongyawn is the joint stronghold of Burmese and Wa forces.