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Bangkok Post (15-9-99),
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NARCOTICS<br>
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Drug inflow falls after pass closure<br>
</font><font size=5><i>More than 38,400 arrested last year<br>
<br>
</font></i><font size=3>Subin Khuenkaew<br>
Chiang Rai<br>
</font><font size=5>T</font></b><font size=3>he closure of San Ton Du
border pass in Chiang Mai has helped stem the inflow of amphetamines from
Burma into three northern provinces, according to Jurin
Laksanavisit.<br>
The PM's Office minister said fewer speed pills have been smuggled across
the border into Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son since the pass in
Mae Ai district was closed last month.<br>
However, he did not believe that the closure and increased anti-drug
measures could force drug production bases along the border to shut
down.<br>
"I haven't been informed yet that the number of amphetamine plants
along the border has fallen. But there is a report that they are now in
trouble and may move their factories to other places, though not far from
existing ones. Anyway, it is certain that we can make it more difficult
for them," the Democrat MP said.<br>
According to Mr Jurin, drug gangs were shifting from smuggling drugs in
bulk to bringing in small amounts of drugs at a time and were also
seeking new trafficking routes. "I have told the military to step up
measures and constantly follow up the smugglers' moves. Officials are
gathering information about reports that the Mekong river has become a
drug smuggling route, with the use of long-tailed boats to deliver drugs
to the lower North and Northeast," he said.<br>
On Monday, Mr Jurin presided over the opening of the first Thai-Burmese
seminar on "Precursor Control in Border Areas" held in Chiang
Rai.<br>
He presented two handphones to Burmese representatives to be used in
co-ordinating joint drug suppression operations.<br>
Attending the seminar were 20 Burmese officials, mostly from Tachilek,
Kengtung, Myawaddy and Kawthaung, and 20 police officers from the
Narcotics Suppression Division and local police stations.<br>
Meanwhile, Viroj Soomyai, director of the Food and Drugs Administration's
Narcotics Control Division, said the FDA had been informed by ONCB
officials about the use of a chemical usually mixed in food supplements
and another one mixed in fertiliser, as drug precursors by several drug
plants along the Thai-Cambodian border and in Pattaya.<br>
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Commentary<br>
<br>
</font><font size=3>by Kanjana Spindler<br>
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Asean: Too little, too late as usual<br>
</font><font size=5>U</font></b><font size=3>nder Thailand's current
leadership term, the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) has once
again been found wanting in moral backbone.<br>
To be fair, the rest of the world can claim no greater moral high ground
as it stood by and watched the ruthless massacre of tens of thousands of
East Timorese citizens.<br>
Just a few short weeks ago, the United Nations was basking in the
limelight, barely able to contain its self-congratulations over the
massive voter turnout in East Timor and the resulting overwhelming green
light for independence. Contrast that euphoria with the picture of an
almost tearful United Nations secretary-general raising the possibility
that those responsible for the massacre may be charged with crimes
against humanity.<br>
Now that Indonesia has indicated its willingness to accept a UN-sponsored
international peacekeeping force, Asean states are all ready to take one
step forward-to participate in that force. Indeed Indonesia has made it
clear that it would prefer Asean, or at least Asian, peacekeepers.<br>
But while token contributions from Asean may be appropriate, I don't
believe the United Nations, which will have the final say on the
composition of the peacekeeping force, can rely on an Asean-dominated
force as much as the Indonesians might prefer it.<br>
Quite clearly the Indonesian military sees Asean soldiers, albeit wearing
blue helmets, as the soft option.<br>
Are Thai or Malaysian or Singaporean troops really going to confront the
Indonesian military, their frequent golfing partners, if this becomes
necessary? Are Thai or Malaysian or Singaporean troops really going to
pursue the collection of evidence against the Indonesian military so that
prosecution of crimes against humanity can take place? I very much doubt
it.<br>
So under Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan's leadership, Asean needs to be
very careful how enthusiastically it steps forward to demonstrate to the
world that it does in fact care about the plight of the East
Timorese.<br>
An ineffective Asean contribution to the international peacekeeping force
would be worse than no participation. Perhaps it might be better to limit
Asean's contribution to the humanitarian level, concentrating on doctors
and engineers and food and medicine and reconstruction, leaving the hard
edge of the peacekeeping operations to the militaries of those countries
with more stomach, and experience, for such operations.<br>
This would not be shirking our responsibilities. It would simply be more
honest and more consistent with our lack of moral purpose over the last
couple of weeks. After all, realistically speaking, Asean is not going to
confront Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world and the
giant among Asean's 10 member states, over the issue of East Timor's
independence.<br>
Asean is not alone in being condemned for its inaction. The entire
community of nations watched the Indonesian military's destruction of the
East Timorese dream of independence because everybody was afraid of
turning Indonesia into a rogue state.<br>
Everybody waited until the Indonesian military had achieved its goal of
delivering an unforgettable lesson to the rest of Indonesia-namely, any
thoughts of independence will be answered with the same horrific
destruction. Only when the Indonesian military had effectively
depopulated East Timor did the international community's rhetoric step up
the requisite couple of notches to pressure Jakarta to start
talking.<br>
Unfortunately, East Timor will probably only turn out to be a sideshow.
The real battle in Indonesia, which has just begun, revolves around the
Indonesian people's tentative attempts to free themselves from military
control of their destiny<br>
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