THIRD ARMY LINKS LEADERS WITH DRUGS

A large number of local politicians and community leaders were on record as
major drug dealers in villages along the Burmese border, Lt-Gen Udomchai
Ongkhasing said yesterday.

The Third Army commander made the claim during an inspection trip to a
village of Akha tribespeople in Mae Chan district.

"Information from police, military and anti-drug agencies said a large
number of village leaders and local politicians have been involved in the
drug trade," he said.

Pol Maj-Gen Wut Withitanont, the Chiang Rai police chief, confirmed about
2,000 people in the province were on record as being involved in the drug
trade but police lacked solid evidence to take legal action.

Lt-Gen Udomchai said the Third Army's urgent task was to reorganise social
order in 150 border villagers in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son to
solve the drug problem.

He said he would ask for two million baht from the government to organise a
seminar for village leaders as part of a psychological operation against drugs.