THE NATION: Generals hire PR to ov

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Mailbag 

      Generals hire PR to
      overcome Burma's
      narco-state image 

      The Washington Post (Feb 24) reported
      that the former assistant secretary of state
      for narcotics control, Ann Wrobleski, was
      paid an annual retainer of US$400,000 plus
      an additional $100,000 for expenses to
      represent the Slorc/SPDC generals in
      Burma. 

      The public relation services provided by
      Wrobleski included arranging visits to
      Rangoon by American journalists. One of
      these journalists reported in the New York
      Times (April 19) that a western diplomat
      said ''what this government wants to do is
      perpetuate itself in power. They know it has
      got a bad image. They looked at drugs and
      found this is one asset they have. They'd
      like to use whatever they've done to
      improve their image and try to get the
      sanctions lifted''. 

      It will be impossible to hoodwink the tough
      and able Secretary of State Madelaine
      Albright. The only way the Burmese
      generals can show that they are negotiating
      in good faith is to honour the American
      extradition request and let druglord Khun
      Sa stand trial in the US District Court in
      New York. Of course, Khun Sa can disclose
      damaging information about several of the
      generals. 

      According to junta spokesman Colonel Hla
      Min, 720 Burmese soldiers were killed and
      2,300 were wounded by Khun Sa's army.
      Yet Khun Sa is treated like a visiting Asean
      head of state in Rangoon and Hla Min even
      admitted in February that ''the government
      has even loaned money to Khun Sa''. 

      The Jan 23 issue of Asiaweek was right --
      Burma is Asia's first narco-state. 

      Myint Thein 

      Senior Advisor to the Burmese Resistance 

      Dallas, Texas