JUNTA BEHIND TRAFFICKERS, SAYS GEN HARN

Independent Agency Would Soon Prove It

Allowing the northern border to be monitored by an independent agency would
quickly disprove the Rangoon junta's allegation that Thailand, not Burma,
was assisting drug traffickers, the senate military committee chairman said
yesterday.

Gen Harn Leenanond, a former Fourth Army chief, said he was stunned by the
recent Burmese claim.

An independent agency, or the United Nations, should be allowed to freely
monitor activities along the Thai-Burmese border, he said.

Then, "the whole world will know who the real drug traffickers are along
the northern border area".

"We are all aware now that the United Wa State Army is the largest drug
trafficker in the Golden Triangle region," Gen Harn said. "Half of the drug
trade money goes directly to support the Burmese military junta."The
junta's allegation was printed in the official New Light of Myanmar It said
the Shan State Army was the major drug trafficker along the border and was
protected by Thailand.

SSA commander Jao Yawd Serk denied the claim and insisted the Shan were
committed to the fight against drugs.

"No one will ever know what is really happening in the UWSA-controlled area
unless the Burmese allow outside scrutiny," said Gen Harn. The Thai people
had suffered greatly from the flood of methamphetamines from Burma.

"Drug money from the UWSA has not only helped build up the Burmese armed
forces, it has helped finance construction of roads and towns in the border
area," said Gen Harn.

He praised Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuenwong for his
decisive response against Burmese intruders who seized a paramilitary
forward outpost early last month.

"There should be no doubt the incursion was intentional. The outpost was
clearly marked and nearly a kilometre inside our country," said Gen Harn.

He was very suspicious of Burma's claim to sincerity in tackling the drug
problem along the border. Drug money was the only income the junta could
get easily from its close ally, the UWSA.

He was optimistic a cap could be kept on the border situation, but warned
that further encroachment by Burmese troops would not be tolerated.

An aide to Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday he
expected the bilateral Regional Border Committee would meet soon, following
talks between Gen Chavalit and a leading member of the junta.

"Gen Chavalit will travel to Burma soon after the RBC meeting," he said.

Lt-Gen Wattanachai, who jointly heads the RBC, has said repeatedly that
Thailand should not initiate the meeting, since it was Burma's turn to be host.