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VOA-BURMA / DRUG CONFERENCE



DATE=2/22/99TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORTNUMBER=2-245791
TITLE=BURMA / DRUG CONFERENCE (L ONLY)BYLINE=GARY
THOMASDATELINE=BANGKOKCONTENT=
VOICED AT: INTRO: A INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE NARCOTICS TRADE IS TO
OPEN IN BURMA TUESDAY.  SEVERAL WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT DISAPPROVE OF THE
BURMESE GOVERNMENT ARE BOYCOTTING THE MEETING, BUT OTHERS
ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND. AS VOA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS  FROM OUR
SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE CONFERENCE BOYCOTT HIGHLIGHTS THE
ISSUE OF MIXING  NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT WITH POLITICS.

TEXT: WHEN THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEROIN,
SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE AGENCY INTERPOL, OPENS IN  RANGOON
TUESDAY, MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES WILL BE REPRESENTED.  BUT THE UNITED STATES
AND BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES WILL NOT.  THE  DECISION BY INTERPOL TO HOLD
THE HEROIN CONFERENCE IN ONE OF THE  WORLD'S BIGGEST HEROIN-PRODUCING
NATIONS, PRESENTED WESTERN  NATIONS CRITICAL OF BURMA WITH A DILEMMA.
THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT SEES THE CONFERENCE AS A CHANCE TO GAIN  SOME
INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY, AT LEAST ON THE ANTI-NARCOTICS  FRONT.  IN THE
WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE CONFERENCE, IT HAS BEEN  BOMBARDING REPORTERS IN
WITH STATISTICS ON GOVERNMENT DRUG  SEIZURES AND CROP ERADICATION.  ON
FRIDAY, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS  TO BURN A LARGE AMOUNT OF SEIZED NARCOTICS FOR
CONFERENCE  DELEGATES.
BUT TO STAUNCH OPPONENTS OF BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT, HOLDING  A LAW
ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE ON HEROIN IN BURMA IS A STUNNINGLY  BAD IDEA.  U-S
FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS' OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE  LIKENED IT TO HOLDING A
CONFERENCE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN  AFGHANISTAN OR AN ANTI-TERRORISM MEETING IN
LIBYA.
CRITICS CHARGE THAT BURMA'S RULERS ARE AT THE VERY LEAST TURNING  A BLIND
EYE TO THE DRUG TRADE, IF NOT EARNING PROFITS FROM IT  THEMSELVES.  THEY
ACCUSE THE GENERALS OF BEING INVOLVED IN MONEY LAUNDERING AND SMUGGLING TO
SUPPORT THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HEROIN MARKET.
THEREFORE, THIS REASONING GOES, TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE WOULD  LEND
LEGITIMACY TO A GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES MONEY OFF THE DRUG  TRADE.  HUMAN
RIGHTS GROUPS ALSO CHARGE IT GIVES SUPPORT TO A  REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT. THE
UNITED STATES AND MOST NATIONS OF THE  EUROPEAN UNION ARE BOYCOTTING THE
CONFERENCE. BUT SOME GOVERNMENTS, SUCH AS THOSE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW

ZEALAND, WHILE STILL CRITICAL OF THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT, SAY THAT CONCERNS
ABOUT STEMMING THE FLOW OF HEROIN OVERRIDE DIPLOMATIC  DISAPPROVAL.  A
SPOKESMAN FOR NEW ZEALAND'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID
MONDAY THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO TACKLE THE DRUGS PROBLEM ON A  LAW
ENFORCEMENT LEVEL. BURMA STEADFASTLY DENIES ANY OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE
DRUG  TRADE.  IN A STATEMENT RELEASED ON THE EVE OF THE CONFERENCE, THE
GOVERNMENT ACCUSES WESTERN MEDIA OF CREATING WHAT IT CALLS  "FABRICATED
NEWS" AND "FALSE ACCUSATIONS" ABOUT BURMA TO TURN  INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC
OPINION AGAINST IT. (SIGNED)NEB/GPT/FC
22-Feb-99 5:56 AM EST (1056 UTC)NNNNSource: Voice of America