TIGHTER CONTROLS URGED ON HMONG

Links With Drugs, Lao Rebels Seen

Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has ordered a tight control on Hmong
hilltribe people at Wat Tham Krabok in Saraburi province.

Gen Chavalit, also deputy premier in charge of security affairs, said
problems were likely to follow if nothing was done to keep the Hmong
population and their activities in check.

"We have to do something about them otherwise their population will
increase and they will cause problems for us," Gen Chavalit said yesterday.

He also instructed a panel set up during the Chuan Leekpai government to
speed up its work on this matter.

The panel, chaired by Gen Sampao Chusri, the supreme commander, is a joint
operation of the Interior Ministry and the National Security Council.

Gen Sampao, meanwhile, said granting citizenship to some 30,000 Hmong at
Wat Tham Krabok was out of the question.

They must be kept under strict control and should be repatriated to Laos or
sent to a third country when possible.

There were serious drug problems in this Hmong community, which had to be
tackled fast, he said.

There was also an anti-Lao government movement among them.

Although this was not yet a serious problem, it was causing Laos some
concern, Gen Sampao said.

A military source said up to 50 Hmong people at Wat Tham Krabok were
suspected of involvement with the anti-Lao government movement.

Although their number was still small, they were believed to be looking for
more members.

The group was being funded by some Lao people living abroad, the source said.

Authorities were also keeping a close watch on the abbot of Wat Tham
Krabok, Phra Chamroen Panchan, after a move by some monks at the monastery
to seek citizenship for the Hmong.

Army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont, who is going to Laos on Sunday, would
raise the matter with the Lao defence minister, the source said.