DRUG WAR TACTICS TO FEATURE IN EXERCISES

Observers From 18 Nations To Attend

Instruction in drug suppression tactics by US special forces will be a
feature of the Cobra Gold joint military exercise for the first time this year.

The exercise, from May 14-28, will also include peace-keeping and
anti-terrorism missions, Maj-Gen Piyasak Desaputra, director for joint and
combined exercises, said.

US troops trained soldiers from the army's Special Task Force 399 in drug
suppression in 2000. Training then included the use of radar and sensors to
monitor the movement of smugglers in border areas.

An army source said the US was lending more help because methamphetamines
were becoming a major problem in the United States.

Actual seizures of large amounts of methamphetamine could be expected in
northern and western border areas during the exercise, through intelligence
provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the source said.

Task Force 399 would deploy against drug traffickers in three Black Hawk
helicopters it received only last week.

Training would focus on night operations.

The army bought the helicopters from the US at $10 million each. Two more
Black Hawks are due to arrive by mid-2003 with plans to purchase a total of
33 by 2009.

Anti-terrorism training would emphasise handling of chemical and biological
weapons, including anthrax, the source said. The drill would deal with
civilian evacuation and the use of safety gear to contain and dispose of
chemical and biological weapons.

It would take place in Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri and Lop Buri provinces.

Training in the transport of large equipment was set for Juk Samet port in
Chon Buri.

In addition, 40 Thai special forces troops would go to the US for training
in strategic parachuting.

All told, 13,200 US personnel would participate in this year's Cobra Gold,
up from 4,973 last year. This included 550 special forces troops.

Most would be from the US Pacific Marine Corps, Special Operations Command,
Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command and Military Sealift Command. The
US troops would stay in Thailand until June 7.

Maj-Gen Piyasak said the exercise would remain trilateral, with Singapore
as the other participant.

Another 18 nations would send a total of 75 observers _ Australia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, France,
South Korea, Cambodia, Tonga, India, Russia, China, Brunei, Vietnam, Fiji
and Bangladesh.

The number of observers would rise sharply, up from 10, because Washington
wanted to make it clear the drill was not a threat to other nations. The US
approved all requests for observer status.