WA TRIBESMEN AT BORDER UNDER CLOSE WATCH

Apprehension Over Move To Mong Yawn

Thailand is keeping a close watch on the relocation of Wa tribespeople
to the southern part of Shan state to see if Burma is serious about
its promise to make them grow substitute crops rather than opium, the
head of the National Security Council said.

Burma recently announced it would relocate more than 100,000 ethnic Wa
from areas of northern Shan State controlled by the United Wa State
Army to a special administrative area in the south and promote
substitute cropping.

"More then 30,000 Wa people have been moved to Mong Yawn opposite
Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district," NSC secretary-general Kachadpai
Burusphat said yesterday.

"We are keeping a close watch on the Wa community there to see what
they produce and whether there will be any problem about markets.

"If the project fails to materialise, they might flee into Thailand
and cause problems for us again," Mr Kachadpai said.

He said the co-operation of neighbouring states was essential if
Thailand is to stop the influx of illicit drugs.

A report from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board had concluded
that Thai-Burmese co-operation increased, compared to the past.

The ONCB and the Foreign Ministry must work harder to ensure even
better co-operation, he said.

Along the border with Burma, the Third Army was proving effective in
intercepting drug traffickers.

The NSC chief said the spread of methamphetamine was a matter of grave
concern. The drug, previously used by manual labourers and truckers,
had become popular among the youth.

"Therefore, while trying to stop the drug flow from outside the
country, we must at the same time do everything possible to prevent
more people from becoming addicted to drugs.

"We have to place emphasis on strengthening our communities. The
private and public sectors must join hands to fight drugs," he said.