News (Media Awareness Project) - Thailand: Envoys Set To Talk With Wa Army |
| Title: | Thailand: Envoys Set To Talk With Wa Army |
| Published On: | 2000-07-03 |
| Source: | Bangkok Post (Thailand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 17:32:31 |
ENVOYS SET TO TALK WITH WA ARMY
Diplomats dealing with Burma are on the verge of setting up a working
group to prepare for talks with the United Wa State Army.
The officials believe the Wa, currently the region's largest group of
drug traffickers, may have started to look forward. The day may come
soon when the Wa may feel besieged and try to strike a deal,
diplomatic sources said.
The UWSA has prospered in recent years, since making a political deal
with Rangoon to stop their active resistance, in return for support
from the Burmese regime for their drug empire.
Maj-Gen Khin Nyunt, the top man in the government, personally visited
Wa areas earlier this year to give Rangoon's blessing to their
spreading urban area. The Burmese army has also supported the forced
relocation of some of the population. Diplomatic sources stressed they
had no direct information yet. "We want to be ready to deal with them,
in case they want to make a deal," said one foreign official.
The move is surprising, as the UWSA has previously made no known
efforts to talk with foreign diplomats, although they frequently have
sent unofficial emissaries to local Thai officials.
The group is widely criticised for making and smuggling heroin and
methamphetamines.
- - The government will present a list of drug suspects to special
anti-narcotics task forces in the central provinces to start a
crackdown aimed at wiping out their networks in three months.
Some 140 narcotics agents have been recruited to join the task forces.
Sorasit Saengprasert, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics
Control Board, said yesterday the special anti-narcotics task forces
will be responsible for 25 central provinces.
These provinces, especially those at the western border, have been
found to be strongholds of the drugs trade as transit and storage points.
A fund of 3.5 million baht has been provided to fund the operation.
Mr Sorasit said he was confident the operation could curb the rising
number of new drug dealers and force old-time dealers to temporarily
halt their trade.
Diplomats dealing with Burma are on the verge of setting up a working
group to prepare for talks with the United Wa State Army.
The officials believe the Wa, currently the region's largest group of
drug traffickers, may have started to look forward. The day may come
soon when the Wa may feel besieged and try to strike a deal,
diplomatic sources said.
The UWSA has prospered in recent years, since making a political deal
with Rangoon to stop their active resistance, in return for support
from the Burmese regime for their drug empire.
Maj-Gen Khin Nyunt, the top man in the government, personally visited
Wa areas earlier this year to give Rangoon's blessing to their
spreading urban area. The Burmese army has also supported the forced
relocation of some of the population. Diplomatic sources stressed they
had no direct information yet. "We want to be ready to deal with them,
in case they want to make a deal," said one foreign official.
The move is surprising, as the UWSA has previously made no known
efforts to talk with foreign diplomats, although they frequently have
sent unofficial emissaries to local Thai officials.
The group is widely criticised for making and smuggling heroin and
methamphetamines.
- - The government will present a list of drug suspects to special
anti-narcotics task forces in the central provinces to start a
crackdown aimed at wiping out their networks in three months.
Some 140 narcotics agents have been recruited to join the task forces.
Sorasit Saengprasert, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics
Control Board, said yesterday the special anti-narcotics task forces
will be responsible for 25 central provinces.
These provinces, especially those at the western border, have been
found to be strongholds of the drugs trade as transit and storage points.
A fund of 3.5 million baht has been provided to fund the operation.
Mr Sorasit said he was confident the operation could curb the rising
number of new drug dealers and force old-time dealers to temporarily
halt their trade.
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