NEW ARMY ASSISTANT HEAD DRAWS THE LINE AGAINST DRUGS

The new assistant commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army has visited Pha
Muang Task Force in Chiang Mai to stress that the suppression of drug
smuggling is a hot issue.

Gen Lertrat Ratanawanitch, assistant to Commander-in-Chief Gen Pravit
Wongsuwan, visited the task force on October 8 to familiarize himself with
the drug situation in its area of responsibility.

He came to the North to attend the task force's briefing on drug prevention
measures and drug suppression, including the Thai-Burma cooperation plan to
help develop the villages along the Thai-Burmese border.

At the briefing, Lt Gen Picharnmeth Muangmanee, commander of the 3rd Army
Region, Maj Gen Manus Paorik, the commander of Pha Muang Task Force, were
on hand to welcome him.

Afterwards, Gen Lertrat said many drug suspects had been apprehended and 14
million ya ba tablets had been seized, reducing the number of tablets
distributed in Thailand. He also spoke of the rural development plan and
looking after the work of the people, especially the 50 royally initiated
projects, in cooperation with the Third Army Region's personnel.

Other issues raised were national security and peace along the borders with
neighboring Myanmar and Laos.

Apart from the development projects along the Thai-Burmese border, joint
military patrols and exercises between Thailand and Myanmar will be
intensified next year. Next month, a meeting of the Thai-Burmese Border
Committee, in which Burmese Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt has shown
interest, will take place.