Wisely, the Tribune assigned Senior Writer R.C. Longworth to interview recent Singapore visitor Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (Perspective, Sept. 21). Mr. Longworth’s informative and insightful articles on global affairs, including Southeast Asia, have been much appreciated. His pointed questions in the “On The Record” interview elicited interesting thoughts concerning Goh’s political philosophy.
It is unfortunate, however, that Mr. Longworth did not question Prime Minister Goh about Singapore’s involvement in the drug trade. Last February, Robert Gelbard, at that time the U.S. assistant secretary of state for international narcotics affairs, stated that, “Over half of the investment in Burma from Singapore has been tied to the family of narcotrafficker Lo Hsing Han.” Australian television has tied Singapore’s Government Investment Corp. to companies owned by Lo, who over the years has been regarded as Burma’s No. 1 drug lord by Southeast Asia drug watchers. Chairman of the Government Investment Corp. is Goh’s role model and former longtime Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew.
Chicagoans should know that 60 percent of the heroin sold on the streets of U.S. cities comes from Burma, according to the U.S. State Department.
And Singapore should be worried since, in spite of draconian drug laws, they have a drug use rate 12 percent higher than the U.S., says the Wall Street Journal.
