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At the press conference, the minister said that although the Government is striving to eliminate the drug menace, the SURA insurgent group led by Ywet Sit with its base at the border area are producing and trafficking narcotic drugs under cover of Shan State liberation movement. The minister said the journalists might have read the news on seizures of heroin produced by that group in the other country near the border. The Government is crushing terrorist acts of the insurgents who are harming the stability, peace and development of the country. At the same time, the Government is also suppressing the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs. However, it is regrettable to see that some NGOs and some groups are stealthily encouraging and supporting drug-trafficking insurgents like Ywet Sit. He said the translated version of the news entitled “Drug bust deals blow to guerrillas” carried in the Opinion & Analysis section of Section (1) at page 11 of Bangkok Post issued on 10 March was posted on the board in the hall for the journalists. In addition, the newspapers issued yesterday inserted documentary photos of Sai Tun (a) Tun Wiwatrungarun, with the rank of captain, of SURA insurgent group, a close ally of SSA leader Col Ywet Sit, arrested with 174 bars of heroin weighing 82 kilos by the Thai anti-drug squad in Pan Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son District of the other country near the border area. Bangkok Post on 10 March stated that the Shan State Army was dealt a heavy blow on Saturday when Sai Tun (a) Tun Wiwatrungarun, a close ally of SSA leader Col Ywet Sit, was arrested in Mae Hong Son, for alleged possession of 174 bars of heroin weighing 82 kilos. Chuffed police say this was the biggest ever heroin haul by local drug officers. They say undercover cops lured Mr Tun into a net by approaching him to buy the drugs at a price of 25 million baht. The heroin is said to have been moved across the border from Myanmar on Saturday night into Pang Ma Pha district in Mae Hong Son where the drug was to be delivered. At a celebratory press conference held in Bangkok, police drug officers explained that Sai Tun (a) Tun Wiwatrungarun is said to be a captain in the SSA and was once a trusted bodyguard to Col Ywet Sit. One border watcher said that he was always alongside Col Ywet Sit providing him protection. Sai Tun (a) Tun Wiwatrungarun is said to have been not that much of a surprise to SSA supporters along the border as there have been suspicions for some time that the guerrilla group was dealing in drugs to support its struggle since the 1960s. Arrest of Sai Tun (a) Tun Wiwatrungarun raises suspicions that the SSA leaders are aware of the drug trade, one border watcher said. The incident has really hurt the guerrilla leader’s credibility, he added. Ywet Sit himself has made no
comment on his former bodyguard’s arrest. Ywet Sit cannot remain silent
forever, said one SSA supporter. He has to clarify this matter otherwise the
SSA’s credibility as a whole would be in jeopardy. |
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YANGON,
16 March — Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan added his explanation
on acts of SURA terrorist group led by Ywet Sit under cover of liberation of
Shan State concerning manufacturing of narcotic drugs, drug trafficking and
its related matters at the press conference No 2/2005 held by the
Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council on 15
March.