Myanmar hits out at Thai papers

Myanmar hits out at Thai papers

YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar urged Thailand on Monday to stop using drugs as a political weapon, and accused Thai newspaper reports of frustrating some of its anti-drug efforts.

A commentary in both of Myanmar's official newspapers, Kyemon and Myanma Alin, said Thailand's Bangkok Post and the Nation had hobbled Myanmar's efforts.

"Bangkok Post and the Nation, the two Thai dailies, have been hampering the momentum of the success in the Thai-Myanmar cooperation in fighting drugs by irresponsibly and one-sidedly placing the blame on Myanmar on the issue," the commentary said.

It said stories in the Thai papers accused Myanmar of turning a blind eye to the smuggling of narcotics by armed ethnic groups and said drugs were carried by Myanmar's state-owned airline.