Testing the junta's commitment

Testing the junta's commitment

The visit to Thailand of a 40-strong Myanmar delegation led by
Senior General Than Shwe is another step in the junta's campaign
to gain world-wide credibility.

If the visitors heard some tough talk from their Thai hosts,
they were also accorded a meeting with King Bhumibol in the
capital. This seems in keeping with the stick-and-carrot approach
to the constructive engagement policy which the Thais have
adopted toward their neighbor.

This approach has produced nothing of value for members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On the contrary, the
approach has damaged previously excellent ties with the European
Union while producing none of the hoped-for improvements in human
rights in Myanmar. But Thailand has a more pressing need to
engage the junta.

Burma has overtaken Afghanistan as the world's top opium
producer, and is known to be producing ever larger quantities of
amphetamines. Thailand's own efforts to cut drug production and
drug use have been sabotaged as more and more of its young people
fall prey to Myanmar's traffickers. There are reports that half
of the children in northern Thai schools have tried amphetamines.
Apart from its efforts to curb domestic production, the
government in Bangkok has to tackle the problem of drugs produced
by its neighbors.

At least half of the narcotics smuggled out of the Golden
Triangle pass through Thailand, increasing in value along the
route. Yet few traffickers are ever brought to justice. Things
may change if the two countries really increase their joint
efforts to put a halt to the drugs trade and the Myanmar junta
promotes its own antidrug campaign.

So far, Myanmar seems to have convinced Interpol of its
sincerity to fight the drugs trade, though United States drug
enforcement agencies and others remain deeply cynical.
Cooperation with Thailand in this fight is the surest test of
Yangon's commitment. If this effort stands up to scrutiny, it
will be the first sign that constructive engagement can produce
positive results.

-- The South China Sunday Morning Post, Hong Kong