Foreign newspaper destroys Lao-Thai relations
- From: Vientiane <VientianeMai@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:16:54 -0700
A drug control official on Tuesday admonished Manager newspaper, a
Thai publication, for making allegations unjustly accusing Vientiane
as being a centre for the drugs trade and a meeting point for drug
dealers and producers in Asia.
Head of Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision
Office, Mr Ounseng Vixay, said that Manager newspaper had failed to
substantiate its information, published on September 10, 2007. The
newspaper stated its source Khon Kaen provincial news agency of
Thailand.
The newspaper said drugs including amphetamines and dried connabis
were being trafficked from production areas in Myanmar through Laos
for exporting to third countries. It also claimed that major drug
dealers in Vientiane included Vietnamese and Chinese-Malay groups. As
well as trading in drugs, the paper said, these groups had engaged in
human trafficking, sending Lao people into Thailand to carry dangerous
drugs to the country.
In addition, the newspaper claimed the districts of Sangthong,
Sikhottabong, Hadxaifong, Pakngum, Xaythany, and other areas were
points of transfer for the drug trade.
Mr. Ounseng said the information and accusations contained in Manager
Newspaper were groundless and caused people living peacefully and
contentedly in these areas to be concerned and frightened. "The
intentions of this group had not only damaged the reputation and
credit of Laos, but had also damaged the good relations between Laos
and Thailand."
"We often watch and listen to Thai media reports, which publicise the
arrest of groups drug dealers in Thailand, who are trading in
narcotics and are themselves Thai, but in this case they are accusing
a neighboring country and making false accusations " he said.
"We, Lao government officials, don't understand what Thailand wants to
achieve by this," he said.
"Agreements between the Lao and Thai governments signed in Luang
Prabang province, on July 19, 2005, state that we, Laos and Thailand
will not publish stories about the other country that are inflammatory
and create misunderstanding."
If Thai officials insist on sticking by the story, Mr Ounseng said,
"We want to continue creative co-operation but what you say and do are
two different things. It is very difficult for us to reconcile what
you have said with what you do in practice."
.
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