The Nation-Anti-UWSA moves upped

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The Nation April 7, 1999
Local & Politics

Anti-UWSA moves upped

THE Thai Army has stepped up efforts to contain the movements of one of
Burma's largest armed narcotic-trafficking groups, amid the ongoing
investigation into the death of nine Thai villagers allegedly beaten to
death by soldiers from the rebel group.

Security and narcotics officers have been put on alert while drug-sniffer
dogs have been positioned just north of Chiang Mai's Ta Thon village at a
temporary border crossing point leading to an area controlled by the United
Wa State Army (UWSA), said Maj-Gen Chamlong Photong, chief-of-staff of the
Thai Third Army Region.

One of the world's largest armed heroin-trafficking groups, the UWSA have
been accused of killing the Thai nationals by beating them while the
victims' hands were tied behind their backs. Their bodies were found last
week scattered along the Thai-Burma border.

The temporary checkpoint was opened last August under a proposal from Chiang
Mai province, approved by the National Security Council. Cross-border trade
was the justification for the opening of the checkpoint, which leads to the
UWSA-controlled region.

Currently, over 1,000 Thai nationals are working as hired hands in the area,
building everything from schools and hospitals to medium-size dams and
roads. The projects are financed by the Wa's heroin money, while the road
linking the checkpoint to Mong Yawn and Mong Hsat in Burma's Shan State is
financed by both the UWSA and the Burmese military government.

According to Pol Col Krajarng Lert-kietdamrong of Chiang Mai's Fang
district, army and police officers investigating the murder agreed that
there was no evidence to suggest that the victims were linked to the UWSA's
drug network. There are at least a dozen heroin refineries in the area along
the Thai-Burma border, and it is very likely that the victims may have
stumbled onto the Wa's narcotics activities, he said.

The UWSA signed a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military government
a decade ago as part of Rangoon's effort to neutralise the 20,000-strong
army, whose weapon inventory was large enough to last them at least 10
years, according to Chamlong.

The Army has proposed on a number of occasions that the border be closed for
security reasons, but local merchants and other parties have consistently

put up stiff resistance, Chamlong said.

Meanwhile, deputy governor for Mae Hong Son province Amornphan Nimanan urged
people in three districts along the border to stay away from the border
area, saying fighting between Burmese government troops and rebel groups
could spill over onto Thai soil during the dry-season offensive.

Thai intelligence sources consider that refugee camps in Mae Sareang
district could in the coming weeks come under attack by renegade rebel
troops siding with the Burmese government, Amornphan said.

The Nation