Myanmar warlord seeks ties with Thailand: report

Myanmar warlord seeks ties with Thailand: report

BANGKOK (AFP): Myanmarese warlord Khun Sa would like his Shan
state to become a province of Thailand, The Nation daily reported
yesterday.

In an interview, Khun Sa said Thailand had more to gain from
ties with the Shan state than from ties with the central Yangon
government as the state offered a developing market with natural
resources and cheap labor.

"We the Shan State wish to become a province of Thailand. All
Shan people have full respect for the Thai monarch and the Royal
Family," The Nation quoted him as saying at his Shan state base
near the Thai border in the northwest.

"Also, we would like to have bilateral trade, the way the
European Union countries trade among themselves," Khun Sa
reportedly said.

Khernsai Jaiyene, described as a close aide to Khun Sa, said a
letter had been sent to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej seeking his
help in settling the problems of minority groups in Myanmar.

Khun Sa meanwhile expressed concern that a planned rail and
road network linking Thailand, Myanmar, China and Laos would
adversely affect the Shan state.

He said Yangon would use money earmarked for the project to
buy weapons "to fight against our people and other ethnic
groups," Khun Sa was quoted as saying.

The central government in Yangon has been negotiating with the
various armed ethnic groups in its border areas for peace in
exchange for development projects. Ten of the dozen groups have
already signed or are in negotiations.