Myanmar hands over alleged drug kingpin to Thailand

YANGON, May 17 (Kyodo) Myanmar on Saturday handed over a fugitive Thai drug
kingpin to Thai authorities in Yangon, saying the action was taken due to
friendly relations and cooperation in drug suppression between the two
countries.

The extradition was made on the departure day of Thai Prime Minister Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh, who paid a twoday visit to Yangon.

An ethnic Chinese with Thai citizenship, Li Yun Chung fled to Myanmar earlier
this year after jumping bail in Bangkok while awaiting extradition to the
United States on drug charges.

Li, also known by his Thai name as Pongsak Rojanasakkul, was arrested in
Thailand on July 23 last year at the request of the U.S. government, which
had indicted him for alleged involvement in a 486kilogram heroin shipment to
the U.S. in 1991.

He was released on bail of 5 million baht (about 192,300 dollars) on Feb. 7
by a Bangkok court and jumped bail while awaiting extradition. The judge in
the case is now under investigation for judicial malfeasance.

Li was handed over to Thai police Saturday at a military base north of Yangon
around noon and immediately taken to Bangkok aboard a Thai air force plane.

Myanmar's ruling junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, provided
no details in its announcement on the circumstances leading to Li's arrest,
but said it ''considers the total eradication of narcotic drugs a national
task.''

Li is alleged to be a close aide to drug warlord Khun Sa, who is now believed
to be in Yangon. Myanmar has refused to extradite Khun Sa, however, saying it
intends to handle him in its own way.

Myanmar has no extradition agreement with the U.S.