ENLIST HELP WITH BURMESE

Rather than pay a visit to Burma, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should
ask the world community to put pressure on Rangoon to stamp out narcotics
production along its border with Thailand.

Mr Thaksin announced recently that he would visit Rangoon this month to
discuss long-standing problems with the Burmese military junta. The
announcement was greeted with discouraging news from Burma.

The introduction of a supplementary 12-page textbook for Burmese
fourth-grade pupils, which describes Thai people as lazy, has upset Thai
academics, politicians and some members of the public.

When Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai was in Rangoon last month to
discuss border problems with Burmese leaders, official announcements were
made attacking Thailand for supporting ethnic groups fighting against the
Burmese government.

Later in the month, an article appeared in the official New Light of
Myanmar criticising a 19th century Thai king.

Based on these incidents, we cannot see how Prime Minister Thaksin can
expect to solve the long-standing dispute with Burma. Thailand's pride will
be hurt by his presence in Rangoon.

The Thai-Burmese dispute is complex. Apart from the problem of poor border
demarcation, Thailand has had to bear the brunt of methamphetamine pills
flooding across the border from Burma. These pills are produced by the
United Wa State Army, which is backed by the Rangoon government.

Also, Burma believes that Thailand is backing the Shan State Army, an
ethnic minority group fighting against Rangoon. The Shans have used
sophisticated weapons to attack and destroy the Wa's drug laboratories
along the border.

While the border remains so tense, it is useless for Prime Minister Thaksin
to go to Rangoon. Instead, he should ask the world community to apply
pressure on Burma to stamp out the drug production within its borders.