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Bkk Post-Troops cleared to enter Bu



Subject: Bkk Post-Troops cleared to enter Burma in hot pursuit of suspects

Bangkok Post, July 15, 1999.
Drug gangs targeted in joint sweep

Troops cleared to enter Burma in hot pursuit of suspects

Subin Khuenkaew

Joint government forces yesterday launched a concerted crackdown on tribal
drug-trafficking networks in the North in a bid to stem cross-border
methamphetamine flows, estimated to reach one million pills per day.

The drive, said to be one of the biggest in recent years, also targets
illegal war weapons, illegal immigrants and forest encroachers.

A military source said yesterday the troops were given the green light to
cross into Burma while in hot pursuit of drug traffickers or in order to
destroy drug production units.

The 800-strong force, with artillery and air support, consists of soldiers
from the 17th Infantry Regiment's 3rd battalion, Border Patrol Police
troopers, paramilitary rangers, anti-narcotics officials, immigration police
as well as forestry officials.

They have been deployed along a 40km by 3km border area stretching from Mae
Ai district, Chiang Mai, to Mae Chan and Mae Fa Luang districts of Chiang
Rai.

The stretch, opposite Burma's Mong Yon, a major stronghold of the United Wa
State Army, has long been identified as a corridor for the smuggling into
Thailand of methamphetamine pills produced by a string of mobile
laboratories supervised by Wei Hseuh-Kang, the UWSA drug baron.

"We have co-ordinated with the Burmese government in case it is necessary
for our troops to cross the border in hot pursuit," said a military source.

The source, however, said he did not expect heavy resistance from the UWSA,
which is likely to retreat deeper into Burma rather than clash head-on with
the Thai troops. In such case, he said, a hot pursuit would not be
necessary.

The 40km stretch covers about 200 villages, but the drive will concentrate
on 26 inhabited by Chinese Haw and identified by authorities to be actively
involved in the trafficking of narcotics.

Although the main target is narcotics, and amphetamines in particular,
ground troops will also look for illegal immigrants and
illegally-established villages which, once discovered, will be dismantled,
the source said. Unit commanders, he said, had been ordered to arrest
illegal immigrants "right on the spot".

Forestry officials accompanying the troops will look into the problem of
forest encroachment, the source added.

As a precaution against allegations of inhumane treatment of hilltribe
people, the source said, the military had invited representatives of some
non-governmental organisations concerned with hilltribe affairs for
consultations before the launch of the operation.

Lt-Gen Sommai Vichavorn, the Third Army Region commander, said the 20-day
drive is necessary to counter the influence of narcotics traders.