Bangkok Post(14/7/99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Three Burmese held for faking job papers
Wassayos Ngarmkham


Three Burmese have been charged with producing fake seaman's books and
diplomas for Burmese nationals wanting to apply for jobs on foreign ships.

City police from Division 6 yesterday arrested the three suspects in a raid
on a room in APG Apartment in Din Daeng district and seized many fake
Burmese seaman's books, official seals and equipment for forging documents.

The three men were identified as Musor, a former University of Rangoon
student, Maung Maung Aye Win, 30, and Sor Win, 30.

Five other Burmese were also arrested in the same raid, reportedly while
contacting the three suspects to obtain fake documents.

Pol Maj-Gen Somphop Sakultavipas, the division commander, said the raid was
prompted by a complaint from the Burmese Foreign Ministry about a Burmese
forgery gang.
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Burma to take part in narcotics drive

The army will launch a major drug suppression drive in the North with
Burmese cooperation early next year, a source said.

Military forces in the region and special warfare units have been
despatched to the area with the main target being the United Wa Army, said
to be a major drug producer located inside Burma.

The army chief, Gen Surayud Chulanont, said all sources of narcotics
production, both inside and outside Thailand, must be destroyed.

"As for the sources of production outside the country, we will seek
cooperation from our neighbours because narcotics cause problems not only
for Thailand but also for the rest of the world," he said.
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Brothers in arms

The army chief wants to encourage cooperation among Asean countries in
joint military exercises.

Gen Surayud Chulanont said that as a first step, Thailand has sent military
officers to Laos and Burma to learn their language and culture while
officers from those countries have been allowed to take courses here.

Thailand also plans to provide training to Cambodian soldiers in removing
landmines along the border.
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