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Bangkok Post(11/11/99)
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<font size=7><b>Groups call for pause in expulsions<br>
</font><font size=5>N</font></b><font size=3>on-governmental
organisations yesterday called on the government to suspend the
repatriation of Burmese workers until conditions on the border
ease.<br>
The 13 NGOs also called for a temporary shelter to be set up for the
workers and their families who cannot be sent back. They also urged
measures be introduced to prevent sexual violence against women
"especially by the authorities".<br>
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) NGOs, as
well as groups engaged in protection work for women, children and
migrants spearheaded the calls.<br>
The long-term solutions they proposed included:uA clear-cut government
plan on migrant workers in keeping with demand for their service and the
National Economic and Social Development Plan*Official-level Thai-Burmese
talks*Devolution of authority to provincial officials*The setting up of
migrant worker committees comprising employers, migrant workers, NGOs and
the media.<br>
The foreign ministry has conceded the current way of returning Burmese
migrants had not worked and said the government will seek a solution to
the failed repatriation through a high-level political visit to
Rangoon.<br>
Thailand has proposed that a joint sub-committee be entrusted with
securing a systematic and sustainable solution, but Rangoon says the
issue should be handled by a local-level mechanism like the township
border committee, he said.<br>
"The ministry is working on other ways besides the existing
mechanisms and considering that a visit by either country's leader
certainly will improve the political climate," said spokesman Don
Pramudwinai.<br>
A visit to Burma by a Thai leader should not be regarded as a winning or
losing gesture, he said, adding that the question of a high-level visit
should be finalised by the end of this month.<br>
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</font><font size=7><b>Old hands cash in on drug purge<br>
</font><font size=5><i>Producers exploit border vigilance<br>
<br>
</font></i><font size=3>Subin Khuenkaew and Nusara Thaitawat <br>
</font><font size=5>S</font></b><font size=3>trict measures against drug
smuggling across the Thai-Burmese border over the past year have prompted
"old hands" inside Thailand to re-launch their old business,
informed sources said.<br>
However, methamphetamine concentrate which requires the skills of a
professional chemist and a stable laboratory condition, is still produced
outside the country and smuggled in, sources said.<br>
"We're still trying to determine the sources and smuggling routes of
this concentrate, whether it is still just outside the northern border in
Burma or other countries," said a source.<br>
Armed ethnic minority groups in Burma, especially the United Wa State
Army, the biggest drug organisation in the Golden Triangle, are still
very much in business but trying to open new smuggling routes.<br>
Although many so-called home laboratories had been raided in recent
months in and around Bangkok, they were only capable of mixing the
concentrate with other ingredients, such as sugar, then pressing the
mixture into tablets, the source said.<br>
He confirmed that a number of old hands in Thailand, mostly Thai
nationals, who have been watched by the Office of Narcotics Control Board
and the Narcotic Suppression Bureau are making a comeback.<br>
"These people used to produce illicit drugs in the country.<br>
"They were forced to become wholesalers in Thailand after producers
in neighbouring countries managed to produce at a cheaper price.<br>
"The government's crackdown has given them the opportunity to make a
comeback and it looks like they are now in direct competition with
producers in Burma," said the source.<br>
Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuanwongse, commander of the Third Army, said in
Chiang Mai that in certain cases, the funding for local production came
from drug bosses outside the country.<br>
"Drug dealers are still adjusting. While some with links in Thailand
have started local production, they still continue to produce in their
country." <br>
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