AFP-Thailand orders immediate closu

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Subject: AFP-Thailand orders immediate closure of border checkpoint with

Myanmar
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Thailand orders immediate closure of border checkpoint with Myanmar
BANGKOK, Aug 4 (AFP) - Thailand is to close indefinitely a northern border
checkpoint with Myanmar in an effort to stamp out rampant drug trafficking,
officials said Wednesday.
National Security Council (NSC) secretary general Khachadpai Buruspatana
said the San Ton Du checkpoint in Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province
would be closed immediately.

It is considered one of the main trafficking points in the Golden Triangle
drug production region, including parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

"The checkpoint is to be closed temporarily or permanently, depending on the
security problems which are affecting us," Khachadpai told reporters after
an NSC meeting Wednesday.

He blamed Myanmar ethnic minority groups for the trafficking of an estimated
200-million amphetamine tablets across the border post since it was opened
in September, 1998.

"The Myanmar territory near the San Ton Du checkpoint is under the influence
of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) who traffic amphetamines to develop their
territory inside Myanmar," said Khachadpai.

"This is just one of the measures we are taking to prevent drug trafficking,
but we aim to stop the smuggling of chemicals substance across the border,"
he added.

Last Thursday the Thai military seized a record haul of more than four
million amphetamine tablets and 14 kilogrammes (30.8 pounds) of heroin after
a confrontation with UWSA fighters at Mae Fa Luang, five kilometers (three
miles) inside Thailand's Chiang Mai province

Khachadpai said the traffickers used the rugged terrain around San Ton Du to
conceal their drug trafficking activities.

The security chief said the border crossing had been opened to facilitate
trade, but so far only 70 million baht (1.89 million dollars) of oil,
contruction materials and other commodities had passed through.

Thousands of Thais are believed to be employed in the UWSA territory, which
has seen a rush of drug-funded infrastructure development in recent years.

A massive joint military-police operation was launched last month in a bid
to stop what Thai narcotics officials believe is a monthly flow of millions
of highly addictive amphetamines pills across the Myanmar border.


Khachadpai said the decision to close the checkpoint would not affect
relations with Myanmar, which is the also biggest supplier of heroin in the
region.