U.S. sets rewards for Asian drug tr

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U.S. sets rewards for Asian drug traffickers

WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Wednesday
ratcheted up the pressure on drug traffickers in Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand,
setting $2 million rewards for four more men wanted on various drug charges in
New York. 

The State Department has long had a $2 million reward for information leading
to the capture of Chang Chi-Fu, also known as Khun Sa, a Myanmarese warlord
who headed the Shan United Army, the largest producer of heroin in the world
until 1996. 

``The announcement today expands the reward to include the additional four
narcotics traffickers and reaffirms that we still want Khun Sa,'' said State
Department spokeswoman Julie Reside. 

The four other men wanted by U.S. authorities are Chang Ping-Yun, or Khun
Saeng; Wei Hsueh-Kang, or Prasit Chivinnitipanya; Yan Wan-Hsuan, or Lao Tai --
all of Myanmar; and Liu Szu-Po, also known as Kamrat Namsuwakhon or Lamdap
Namsuwakhon, of Thailand. 

The rewards are being offered as part of the Counternarcotics Rewards
Programme established by Congress in 1986 as a tool to help the U.S.
government identify and bring to justice major drug traffickers. 

The State Department's counternarcotics bureau sets the rewards in cooperation
with other agencies, including the Justice Department, the Drug Enforcement
Agency and the FBI. 

In the United States, information regarding the targeted drug traffickers can
be provided to local offices of the DEA or FBI, while overseas, information
should be given to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. 

Khun Sa was captured by Myanmar's military in 1996 and is believed to be
living in an army safe house in Yangon, along with key aide Chang Ping-Yun. 

Half Shan and half Chinese, Khun Sa formerly commanded 20,000 guerrillas in
the Shan United Army -- also known as the Mong Thai Army -- ostensibly to
fight for independence for his northeastern Shan state. But international drug
agencies accuse him of using the guerrillas as a personal army to protect his
opium and heroin businesses. 

He was indicted in U.S. court in December 1989 on various charges of heroin
trafficking and Washington wants him handed over so he can stand trial in the
United States. 

Yan Wan-Hsuan is Khun Sa's former confidential secretary, and head of the
guerrilla group's political affairs section. He also has been indicted in U.S.
court for attempting to import and distribute heroin. 

Liu Szu-Po was a principal heroin distributor for Khun Sa, the State
Department said, noting he was last seen in Thailand. 

Wei Hsueh-Kang commands the United WA State Army's Southern Military Command,
a group the State Department says has replaced the Mong Thai Army as the
dominant heroin traffickers in Southeast Asia. He is believed to be hiding in
Myanmar. 

22:11 06-03-98