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.