Reuters-Myanmar and Thailand clash

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Subject: Reuters-Myanmar and Thailand clash over drugs 

Myanmar and Thailand clash over drugs
07:27 a.m. Jul 26, 1999 Eastern
BANGKOK, July 26 (Reuters) - Myanmar rejected charges by Thailand that its
soldiers are involved in the drugs trade but Bangkok called on its neighbour
to prove its sincerity.

The Myanmar government said its embassy in Bangkok had ``categorically and
emphatically denied'' charges carried in Sunday's Bangkok Post newspaper,
which quoted an unnamed high ranking officer of the National Narcotics
Operation Centre.

``Could the high-ranking officer come out with hard evidence that Myanmar
troops are involved in drug trafficking?'' it said referring to the
narcotics officer.

``The Armed Forces of Myanmar continues today the noble total war against
narcotic drugs. How could you blatantly accuse them of supporting the
production of narcotic drugs while sacrificing so many precious lives?''

Asked to comment on the report and Myanmar's response, Thai Deputy Foreign
Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra told a news conference:

``Accusations that the government is involved in narcotics trafficking is a
serious charge and we should not do that,'' he said.

``But in order to clear doubts about such accusations, the Myanmar
government should demonstrate its sincerity in narcotics suppression
cooperation.''

He added that there were allegations that the United Wa State Army (UWSA)
was actively involved in drugs trafficking in areas that neither Myanmar nor
Thai authorities were able to control.

The Post quoted the Thai narcotics officer as saying the Myanmar military
was ``directly involved'' in the influx of millions of methamphetamine pills
into Thailand and was being ``two-faced'' in its pledges to eradicate drug
production.

He said Myanmar's military had given direct support to the UWSA, a group
considered by most independent analysts to be the leading drug trafficking
force in the country. Myanmar is the world's biggest heroin producer and
also a major amphetamine maker.

The paper also quoted Thai army chief General Surayudh Julanond as saying it
was illogical to be nice to a country which had no good intentions towards
Thailand.

Yangon's statement did not respond to his comments, but referring to the
narcotics official, it said it was ``good to be prudent when pointing

accusing fingers at others'' and that the accusations could jeopardise
bilateral cooperation on narcotics.

Huge amounts of amphetamines pouring across the border from Myanmar have
become a scourge in Thailand, putting pressure on national leaders to act
and straining ties with Myanmar, a fellow member of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Thailand has recently deployed hundreds of troops and established mortar and
artillery bases on the Myanmar border opposite UWSA positions.