THAKSIN'S VISIT LEADS TO THAW IN MYANMAR TIES

The Two Nations Agree To Work Jointly To Tackle The Cross-Border Drug
Trade. Yangon Also Agrees To Reopen A Key Checkpoint For Traders And Tourists

BANGKOK - Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned home
yesterday from a fence-mending mission to Myanmar, with promising signs of
a thaw in the strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

A major agreement to coordinate efforts for tackling the drug problem at
the Thai-Myanmar border was reached by Mr Thaksin and Myanmar leader Senior
General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council.

The key measures included posting narcotics officials at their respective
embassies and setting up coordination posts at major checkpoints on the
border where most of the drugs, namely amphetamine, are produced.

Cross-border drug trafficking is a major problem in Thailand's hostile
relations with its neighbour.

In March, Mr Thaksin upset the Myanmar government with accusations that it
was providing clandestine support to the ethnic Wa tribe in producing the
illegal drug and smuggling it into Thailand.

About 700 million amphetamine tablets are expected to be smuggled into the
country this year.

Some of the pills have found their way into other parts of the region,
including Singapore.

Myanmar has denied links to the drug lords. To signal its willingness to
cooperate, Gen Than Shwe has agreed to join the leaders of China, Thailand
and Laos at an anti-drug summit to be held in Kunming this year.

Thai-Myanmar relations are also bedevilled by frequent border disputes and
Myanmar's recent media attacks on the Thai monarchy.

On both counts, Mr Thaksin - who also met Lt-General Khin Nyunt, the
powerful number two in the Myanmar leadership, during the two-day visit -
has got the results he set out to achieve.

Myanmar has agreed to reopen the border checkpoint at Tachilek, opposite
Mae Sai, the northern Thai city that was shelled by Myanmar troops in February.

No firm date has been fixed, but it is expected that the border crossing
will be opened soon for traders and tourists.

This will be a major breakthrough for relations as Thai exports to Myanmar,
which make up 40 per cent of the bilateral trade, had ground to a halt
since the checkpoint was closed.

In a symbolic but thoughtful gesture, Myanmar leaders have extended an
invitation to the Thai king and queen to visit the country.

An analyst said: 'Even if the visit does not take place as the king seldom
travels, it is a nice gesture to make up for the recent criticisms.'

Bilateral ties soured after Myanmar released a textbook recently that
portrayed Thais as lazy and servile.

The state-owned New Light of Myanmar also published several articles which
criticised Thai kings.

The media attacks have since stopped.

Instead, Mr Thaksin was given a warm reception in Yangon, and the visit had
been described by Thai officials as a 'huge success'.

'We don't want any misunderstanding and mistrust to persist any more. It's
time both countries looked forward,' said the Thai leader.