Plans to set up regional task force

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Subject: Plans to set up regional task force to fight drugs

Plans to set up regional task force to fight drugs

Thailand to propose new body at meeting

Surat Jinakul


Thailand is expected to propose the setting up of a task force against 
drugs with its five neighbours in the Mekong region when it hosts a 
ministerial meeting on regional cooperation in drug control in Bangkok 
this week.

"We may be able to set up a task force between the six countries with 
Thailand as its centre, for joint operations inside and outside the 
country," said Pol Lt-Gen Noppadol Somboonsap.

Thailand and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme are 
hosting the second ministerial meeting for regional cooperation in drug 
control in the Mekong region on July 9-11. 

Burma, China, Laos and Thailand entered into a Memorandum of 
Understanding for drug control cooperation in 1993, with Cambodia and 
Vietnam joining in 1995. The first ministerial meeting was held in 
Beijing in 1995 when an 11-project Action Plan was agreed. So far two 
projects have been launched.

Pol Lt-Gen Noppadol did not give further details as to the mandate of 
the task force or whether Thailand was proposing adding another project 
under the Action Plan.

A source said that because Thailand was increasingly frustrated with its 
inability to reach mobile amphetamine and heroin refineries just across 
its border in Burma, Laos and Cambodia, it was hoping for cooperation 
from its neighbours in cross-border law enforcement.

The July 9-11 meeting, with talks at the senior officials level 
scheduled for both days, will involve reviewing progress made under the 
Action Plan, updating each other on the drug situation in each country 
and exploring solutions.

The ministerial meeting on Friday, to be chaired by Deputy Prime 
Minister Sukhavich Rangsitpol, is expected to conclude with the signing 
of four more projects under the Action Plan.

Three involve all six countries: training of law enforcement officers, 
intelligence sharing, and judicial training; and a fourth project 
involving Burma, China and the UNDCP is an integrated development 
project for the Wa region of Shan state.

As of last night it was unclear whether Cambodia would be represented at 
the meeting because of the fighting in the country. Bengt Juhlin, deputy 
director of the UNDCP's regional centre in Bangkok, said the meeting and 
the signing of the four projects will go ahead even without Cambodia.

He said the UNDCP will keep Cambodia updated on the results of the 
meeting and Phnom Penh could sign the projects later.

Pol Lt-Gen Noppadol challenged allegations the region was the largest 
producer of illicit drugs in the world and suppression was difficult 
because refineries are mostly located along the border areas.

Police chief Pracha Phromnok recently held talks with his counterparts 
from Laos and Burma in Luang Prabang to discuss the possibility of joint 
suppression.


"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."


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