UWSA fight against drugs

UWSA fight against drugs

MYANMAR: In this rugged region where the blush of opium poppies
still smudges mountains, the militia branded as the world's
largest drug army is working with Thailand and Myanmar to wipe
out narcotics.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA), allied with Myanmar's
military junta, controls the surrounding territory where
clandestine laboratories also pump out billions of
methamphetamine pills mostly destined for Thailand.

But the opium blush is fading thanks to the massive
resettlement of Wa farmers and a development project to assist
them, while the UWSA insists the mobile labs shifting into ever
remoter areas are outside their control.

Senior military officials from Myanmar, Thailand and the UWSA
recently rubbed shoulders at the launch of a health centre
forming part oder where rice, maize, fruits, macadamia nuts, tea
and coffee plantations were raised.

According to official Myanmar figures, the results were
successful with a surplus of 60,000 tons of rice produced in
2002. -- AFP