WA DRUG CARTEL IN US SIGHTS

Burma Must Act Or Risk Intervention

Alan Dawson - Bangkok Post (Thailand)

Mon, 18 Mar 2002

The United States has declared the Wa drug dealers are important targets in the war on terrorism, a significant policy change that could put the Burma-based narcotics cartel in the US bullseye.

Diplomatic sources in Bangkok said it was clear US policy in the region is quickly evolving, and will put pressure on Burma to strike fast and hard against drug kingpin Wei Hsueh-kang or risk intervention from outside.

In a separate development, the American military commander in the Pacific, Adm Dennis Blair, stressed the importance of close US-Thai relations.

"Thailand is critical to our efforts'' in combatting drug trafficking and in international peace-keeping, he told US senators.

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