BANGKOK, March 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States has declared
the ethnic Wa drug dealers, operating in Myanmar areas bordering
Thailand, are important targets in its war on terrorism, the
Nation TV Channel here reported Monday.
   U.S. diplomats here were quoted as saying that the U.S.
government has designated drug dealers of the Wa nationality in
Myanmar a "terrorist group with known links to drug trafficking
around the world."
   "The Wa drug dealers controlled major drug producing areas in
Myanmar and used the proceeds to carry out an insurgency against
the Myanmar government, " said a U.S. diplomat who refused to give
his name.
   Local analysts said the move shows the U.S. campaign against
terrorism has a much wider scope than just overthrowing the
Taliban regime in Afghanistan and it is very clear that the U.S.
will increase its "anti-drug efforts" in Southeast Asia.
   In a separate development, Dennis Blair, the U.S. military
chief in Asia-Pacific, said in Washington last week that "Thailand
is critical to our efforts in combating drug trafficking."
   Thailand is considered as an important country in the anti-drug
war in the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos border
with each other. The Golden Triangle is one of the world's major
center for drug production and trafficking, which are largely
controlled by the Wa drug dealers.  Enditem