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Thai politicians `are in drug trade` A Thai army general says politicians need money from trafficking to buy votes. He criticises Myanmar for pushing drugs across the border BANGKOK - An outspoken Thai army general responsible for defending the country`s northern border with Myanmar said several Thai politicians and businessmen were involved in drug trafficking across the frontier. Lieutenant-General Wattanachai Chaimuanwong, commander of Thailand`s third army, told Thai radio on Thursday he could not take legal action against the culprits because he did not have any authority or evidence to do so. `I can`t arrest them because we are not authorised to, even though we know what they are doing,` Lt-Gen. Wattanachai said. `Narcotics trafficking is a multi-billion baht business involving hundreds of people and networks... Politicians need money from them to buy votes.` (One Singapore dollar is 24.4 Thai bahts.) Lt-Gen. Wattanachai has been extremely critical of Myanmar following clashes at the border last month. He says Myanmar`s government is encouraging the activities of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the source of most of the methamphetamine pills flooding Thailand. Myanmar insists that it is clamping down on drugs and says the UWSA, an ethnic Wa militia group, should not be made a scapegoat for the problem. Lt-Gen Wattanachai`s comments have often contradicted Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who boasts good personal connections with Yangon`s ruling generals, fuelling speculation in the Thai media that Lt-Gen Wattanachai could be transferred to a higher but inactive post later this year. The two countries, which share a 2,400 km border, have waged a war of words since their troops exchanged fire in February clashes that left several dead. Thai and Myanmar officials plan to hold their first border talks in two years on April 2-4 in the northeastern Myanmar town of Kengtung in a bid to soothe simmering tensions. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Thursday he would ask for a list of the politicians involved in drug trafficking from Lt-Gen Wattanachai. `I will ask him for the list, to keep a close eye on those suspects,` he said. `So when we have enough evidence, I will order their arrest - I won`t spare any of them, no matter who they are.` -- Reuters -- The Straits Times 24.3.01 |
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| aus der Diskussion: | Waste or make money in Thailand |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | BodyG (24.03.01 17:29:44) |
| Beitrag: | 605 von 611 (ID:3167495) |
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