Pubdate: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2000 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Author: Wassana Nanuam US ARMY TO HELP TRAIN THAI TROOPS The United States army will train Thai soldiers in drug operations from next month, according to the Third Army chief. A joint command headquarters will be set up in Chiang Mai as a training centre for anti-drug drives, said Lt-Gen Watthanachai Chaimuenwong. During the training programme, American troops will pass on lessons from their experience in efforts to counter the cocaine trade in Colombia. Four companies, three from the army and the other border patrol police, will form a rapid deployment force to intensify the drug war. Problems will worsen next year with the United Wa State Army likely to raise methamphetamine output to 600 million pills from 400 million this year, said Lt-Gen Watthanachai. Only 25 million pills were seized in Thailand this year. The relocation of 10,000 Burmese ethnic minorities to areas close to the border has served to boost production of opium and other drugs. "We must urge the international community to pressure Burma to seriously combat drugs. It should not claim that drug precursors are smuggled via Thailand, China or other countries," said Lt-Gen Watthanachai. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D