Thailand seeking cooperation from Myanmar to arrest, extradite Karen rebel leader

BANGKOK, May 10 -- Thailand will press for cooperation from Myanmar to arrest and extradite Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Commander-in-Chief Gen Saw Ler Pwe, also known as Na Kham Mwe, to Thailand for drug related charges, according to the chief of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

ONCB Secretary Seneral Adul Sangsingkeo on Thursday brushed aside the DKBA leaders latest comments in a press conference that he was not involved in drug trading and would not surrender to Thailand, saying that the ONCB will coordinate with Myanmar authorities to arrest Gen Saw Ler Pwe.

He affirmed that Gen Saw Ler Pwe was named in an arrest warrant in 2003 for possessing illicit drugs for selling.

He said 900,000 meth pills and heroin were seized in the case and the court sentenced him in absentia to the death penalty. The case has a statute of limitations of 20 years

The court also approved an arrest warrant for Gen Saw Ler Pwe under the name of Gen Na Kham Mwe, he said, adding that intelligence showed that Gen Saw Ler Pwe's movement is links with a drug syndicate in Thailand's northern region.

A bounty of Bt1million was set for information leading to his arrest.

Gen Adul said that as Gen Saw Ler Pwe has announced that he will not surrender, the Thai authorities must proceed by coordinating with the Myanmar authorities to arrest him.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung, in his capacity as Director of the National Command Center for Drugs (NCCD), also responded coldly with Gen Saw Ler Pwe's comments, saying that his arrest warrant was issued in accordance with Thai legal procedure.

He said that, according to his own informed sources, Gen Saw Ler Pwe's next press conference would accuse two or three Thai officials of involvement with drug trafficking.

Pol Capt Chalerm said that Myanmar has cooperated well with Thailand and has warned Gen Saw Ler Pwe not to close the Thai-Myanmar border as he threatened.

Gen Saw Ler Pwe’s latest press conference reemphasised that he was not involved with drug trafficking. He said he will intensify retaliatory measures against the Thai authorities and will unveil the names of persons involved with Thai-Myanmar cross border drug trafficking.

The retaliation will include trade and investment, not military responses. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-10

The Drugs trade is a many headed hydra, remove one and a new one springs up to continue the supply

Karen General Affirms His Innocence

Karen rebel leader Major General Nat Khann Mway asks Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung why he has not arrested fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his guilt has already proven in court.

Commander of a Karen militant group, Major General Nat Khann Mway told a press conference he will take steps to retaliate against the Thai authorities after an arrest warrant was issued against him for drug offenses.

Nat Khann Mway insisted that he is innocent and will not surrender to police. He asked both Thai and Burmese authorities to launch an investigation into the case and said he will expose drug rings along the Thai-Burmese border.

He further said that his retaliation will exclude force and weapons, but will not guarantee public safety along the border.

Nat Khann Mway asked Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung why he has not arrested fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following the court's ruling or the Thai law is meaningless.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-10

"Nat Khann Mway asked Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung why he has not arrested fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following the court's ruling or the Thai law is meaningless."

Nam Khann Mway 1

Chalerm Yoobamrung 0

Chalerm, your serve