Northern Thailand

Meth Production in Myanmar Feeds Into Growing Regional Trade: UN Report

Policeman guards methamphetamine seizure

RANGOON — Burma continues to be a production hub for methamphetamine, which is smuggled from Shan State into neighboring countries and feeds an increasing Asian market for the drug, according to a UN report released Tuesday.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s “2014 Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment—Amphetamine-type Stimulants and New Psychoactive Substances” said the supply of methamphetamine in Asia continues to grow apace, with the quantity of the drug reported seized in the region tripling in the past five years to 36 tons.

The drug—which comes in a crystallized form known as “crystal meth,” or in the pills known in Southeast Asia as “Yaba”—is smuggled around the region by organized criminal gangs, according to UNODC. “The rise in demand in Asian markets for methamphetamines and emerging demand for new psychoactive substances is being met by large production bases in neighbouring China, Myanmar and the Philippines,” a UNODC statement said.

According to Jason Eligh, UNODC country manager for Burma, both forms of methamphetamine are produced in the country, predominantly in Shan State. Large parts of Shan State are controlled by ethnic armed groups or government-linked militias and remain beyond the reach of Burmese law enforcement.

“[Methamphetamine] is produced and trafficked by a number of armed ethnic groups in Shan,” Eligh told The Irrawaddy by email.

The UNODC said in its report that Burma is one of the main destinations in the region for precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine, which are smuggled overland from China and India.

While only six methamphetamine laboratories were discovered in Burma between 2008 and 2011, many were likely going undetected, it said. “This number is relatively small in view of the fact that there have been reports of sizeable amounts of methamphetamine seized in a number of countries in the region, among them China and Thailand, that originate in Myanmar,” said the report.

“According to expert perception, some methamphetamine originating in Myanmar is intended for the domestic market, but most is intended for trafficking to neighbouring countries,” it said. UN experts believe methamphetamine is trafficked across Shan State’s border with Laos, in the so-called Golden Triangle area, before making its way to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

“There are indications that large quantities of the substance are also smuggled to China. According to expert perception, a large share of methamphetamine pills seized in China in 2012 originated from Myanmar. Moreover, there have been reports that increasing amounts of methamphetamine originating from Myanmar have been seized in Yunnan province in south-western China along the border to Myanmar.”

Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC’s Tokyo-based regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement that the trafficking of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine had a significant impact on regional police forces, courts, prisons and health care systems.

“This rising threat of synthetic drugs is compounded for Japan and Asia because the production epicenters of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances are nearby. States throughout the region are deeply concerned about illicit drug production, the diversion of the precursor chemicals needed to make methamphetamines and new psychoactive substances, organized crime syndicates, and vulnerable borders,” Douglas said.

By SIMON LEWIS / THE IRRAWADDY

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.