Nasty legacy of the Slorc

EDITORIAL

Published: 14 May 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The new and supposedly progressive government of Myanmar faces many challenges in throwing off the sordid past of 48 years of military tyranny. One deeply troubling heritage is the drug trade. Neighbours including Thailand have given President Thein Sein a long rope, but all agree that the long years of Myanmar drug trafficking must end.

The demand by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung that Myanmar extradite Na Kham Mwe is a curious part of separating Myanmar from its deep drug dependence.

Known in Thai as Nakammuay and Kammuay, Na Kham Mwe (the alias means "moustache") is officially wanted by the Thai government. There is a reward of 1 million baht for anyone who can help bring him to justice. Allegations that the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) is involved in drug smuggling stretch back to at least 2003. The recent challenge by the Burmese warlord to "inspect my camp" are meaningless, since he is a suspected trafficker and enabler, not a producer of methamphetamines.

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JLM

Discussion 3 : 14 May 2012 at 12.123
I thought it was proven as fact, that Myanmar drug production and trafficking is a "product of Thailand": cold pills from Thai hospitals sent by Thai officials to Myanmar...
from iPhone application.
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franklin
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Discussion 2 : 14 May 2012 at 09.332
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After reading this article, one would think that Thailand is an innocent victim in the on-going illicit drugs trade. Facts prove otherwise. From the days of heroin exported through Thailand to the world market to current days with ‘yaba’ sold to Thais as the end user, ‘big Thais’ have shared in making ‘big money’. Thailand should worry about its own border soldiers, cops, prison guards, hospitals and ‘big Thais’ who profit from circumventing the law instead of following it. These people need to be held accountable at the highest level and an example made. Until Thai laws apply equally to all, they only breed bribes, corruption and further unlawfulness. The other side is prevention, education and an honest commitment to better Thai society as a whole.
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hawaiiman
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Discussion 1 : 14 May 2012 at 07.591
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Worry about the devils t home before you worry about the ones in other countries.
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Nasty legacy of the Slorc | Bangkok Post: opinion