THAKSIN WANTS LIST OF MP DRUG TRAFFICKERS

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he
would ask for a list of politicians involved in drug trafficking from
a senior army general who said he knew the names of several culprits.

"I will ask him for the list to keep a close eye on those suspects,''
Thaksin told reporters.

"So when we have enough evidence, I will order their arrest--I won't
spare any of them, no matter who they are.''

Thaksin's remarks were in response to comments from Lt-Jen
Wattanachai Chaimuanwong, commander of Thailand's third army, that
several politicians and businessmen were involved in drug trafficking.

Lt-Jen Wattanachai, responsible for defending the country's northern
border with Myanmar, told Thai radio yesterday he could not take
legal action against the culprits because he did not have any
authority or evidence to do so.

"I can't arrest them because we are not authorised to, even though we
know what they are doing,'' he said.

"Narcotics trafficking is a multi-billion baht business involving
hundreds of people and networks ... Politicians need money from them
to buy votes.''

Thaksin said there were no officials brave enough to send him such a
blacklist, but added he wanted to encourage them to do so.

"Nobody is above the law,'' Thaksin said.

Lt-Jen Wattanachai has been extremely critical of Myanmar following
clashes at the border last month.

He says Myanmar's government is encouraging the activities of the
United Wa State Army (UWSA), the source of most of the
methamphetamine pills flooding Thailand.

Myanmar insists that it is clamping down on drugs and says the UWSA
should not be made a scapegoat for the problem.

Lt-Jen Wattanachai's comments have often contradicted Defence
Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who boasts good personal connections
with Yangon's ruling generals, fuelling speculation in the Thai media
that Lt-Jen Wattanachai could be transferred to a higher but inactive
post later this year.

The two countries, which share a 2,400km border, have waged a war of
words since their troops exchanged fire in February that left several
dead.