Thaksin to lead new war on drugs

BANGKOK: -- THAI Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stung by recent US criticism of his bloody domestic war on drugs last year, yesterday announced a fresh crackdown on drug dealers starting next month.

In his weekly radio address, Mr Thaksin gave few details about the renewed campaign but said it would get under way with the start of school holidays next month, as the drug problem was 'coming back'.

The new effort will focus on Bangkok and other major cities, where critics say last year's campaign failed to make a significant dent in drug demand, particularly among the young.

Last December, Mr Thaksin declared victory after a 10-month anti-drug war, but the deaths of more than 2,000 suspected drug traffickers and peddlers sparked an outcry from rights activists who accused the police of acting outside the law.

In its annual human rights report issued on Thursday, the US State Department said Thailand's record 'worsened with regard to extra-judicial killings' and arbitrary arrests.

Mr Thaksin did not comment on the report in his radio address yesterday, but on Friday, he had responded by calling the US a 'useless friend'.

'It's unacceptable to me the way the US came out with the report by citing media reports. What kind of friend are they?' he was quoted as saying by The Nation newspaper yesterday.

Mr Thaksin's government has been one of Washington's staunchest allies in South-east Asia, backing the war on terror in the region and sending non-combat troops to help rebuild Iraq.

He is stepping up his anti-drug efforts because drug use among Thai youths has soared in recent years.

Millions of people have become addicted to stimulant methamphetamine pills produced mainly in jungle laboratories along the border with neighbouring Myanmar.

-- AP, Reuters 2004-02-29

I would like to know what "prescription" drug's that boy is on...

how long before the majority of the thai drug takers realise they can get good ephidrine over the counter at cheaper prices...

I thought Thailand was "drug free".