Govt kicks off new anti-drug campaign

[Khun Don]

Govt kicks off new anti-drug campaign

The government has declared a 90-day war against drugs nationwide and plans to deter possible killings among suspected drug dealers.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat launched the 90-day anti-drug campaign, enforced since Monday until January 31, and named Interior Minister Kowit Wattana as chief of the government's drug suppression and control centre and Justice Minister Somsak Kiatsuranond as deputy chief of the centre.

Mr Somchai said the 90-day anti-drug campaign might be considered a follow-up to the earlier campaign launched in the times of the former Thaksin administration, but the prime minister said the authorities would take measures to prevent and contain slayings among suspected drug dealers as had been the cases which occurred during a previous Thaksin administration.

Human rights groups say at least 2,500 people died during the notorious campaign held between 2003 and 2004.

The premier called on the authorities attached to all government agencies to join together in the 90-day nationwide crackdown on drugs.

Gen Kowit called the 90-day campaign a national agenda and said the authorities will focus on suspected drug-dealing areas of Bangkok and its metropolitan region as well as the southern border provinces.

The Office of Narcotic Control Board plans to seize an estimated Bt400 million in assets owned by suspected drug dealers, especially those arrested in border areas within this year. (TNA)

Bangkok Post

[mangomike]

A 90 day crackdown on illegal drugs ? Wonderful. How about the other 275 days of the year ? How about admitting a large part of the drug problem comes from Burma and putting pressure on the Burmese govt. to stem the flow of yabaa into Thailand ?
How about the govt. opening up rehab centers so addicts can try and kick the habit instead of being sent to prison ? The sellers are the real problem, not the users. Educating children early in the schools about the dangers of
using drugs I believe would go a long way towards at least slowing down illegal drug use.
This has to be a joint effort between parents, schools, and the govt all year long, not just for 90 days.

[yeows]

I hope the present government will not be obsessed with putting up a show this time. It is better to apprehend the real perpetrators than to boast and to show everyone the huge numbers killed or captured in this campaign.

[Roamin]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstorie....php?id=131875

[Surawut]

I hope the present government will not be obsessed with putting up a show this time. It is better to apprehend the real perpetrators than to boast and to show everyone the huge numbers killed or captured in this campaign.

I wouldn't bet on it Yeows. Appearance is everything in Thailand. This reminds me of Thaksin's famous gaffe during his infamous "war on drugs" he set arrest quotas for district police chiefs to meet and told them that anyone failing to meet their quotas would be transferred to a "less profitable" station.

[Khun Don]

New Anti-Drug Campaign Risks Abuses : Human Rights Watch
By The Nation

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's new anti-drugs campaign is likely to lead to serious human rights violations without major changes in policy and personnel, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

Human Rights Watch called on the Thai government to end punitive treatment of drug abusers, carry out major reforms in policing, and provide justice for the close-to-3,000 extrajudicial killings during a similar campaign in 2003.

Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch said the Thai prime minister said that this time around killings will not be tolerated, but the government said the same thing last time. "Somchai's credibility is at stake here."

Recently Somchai government has announced the new campaign on drug suppression would focus on a search for drug dealers. The aim was to reduce the supply to users between the ages of 13 and 18.

And those caught buying drugs would have to take part in a rehabilitation program at military camps or be sent to prison.

Adams said given Thailand's poor record with respect to coerced drug treatment, the statement raises serious concerns.

"Forcing drug users into badly designed rehabilitation programs is incompatible with international standards requiring fully informed consent to treatment," Adams said. "Furthermore, fear of prosecution and harsh treatment will drive them away from seeking health care services that are theirs by right and that could actually help them."

The director also referred to an investigation into the extra judicial killings that took place during government of Thaksin Shinawatra in which provided shocking findings that 2,819 people had been killed between February and April 2003.

Many of those killed had been blacklisted by police or local authorities as suspected drug dealers. Police officers were suspected to have been involved in many of the attacks, particularly as many were killed soon after being summoned to police stations for questioning.

"Many of the same people suspected of killings and other abuses in the last 'war on drugs' remain in positions of authority," Adams said.

"The government should prosecute and discipline those involved in previous abuses and institute reforms before asking the police to mount another campaign. Otherwise, more people are likely to be killed."