Pm Declares Nation Now Out Of Danger

[george]

PM declares nation now out of danger

People have their sons, daughters back

BANGKOK: Illegal drugs have been eradicated to the point they longer have any great influence on people's lives, but the fight will continue until Thailand is completely drug free, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

The government would declare its victory over drugs tomorrow, he said.

It was made possible by the people's contribution of physical and spiritual forces, and even their lives, to protect their society.

``We are now in a position to declare that drugs, which formerly were a big danger to our nation, can no longer hurt us. Many Thai people now have their sons and daughters back,'' he said.

The prime minister yesterday presented 112 awards to outstanding agencies and officials who took part in the government's three-month war on drugs early this year.

Winning agencies received 200,000 baht, 100,000 baht or 50,000 baht, depending on how they performed.

Sixty-seven people, including officials who were injured in the course of drug suppression and children of those killed in the campaign, were awarded 50,000 baht and 100,000 baht, respectively _ a combined 13.8 million baht.

The six agencies given outstanding awards were the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Third Army's anti-drug centre, the Provincial Administration Department's anti-drug centre, Thanyarak Institute, the Interior Ministry's anti-drugs centre and the Revenue Department.

Five other agencies were honoured for their support _ the Government Lottery Office, the Narcotics Control Board, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Internal Security Operations Command and the To Be Number One Project.

Mr Thaksin said the government would give special care to families which lost their breadwinners in drug operations.

The government would also continue its efforts to eradicate drugs. Society should not respect people who get rich because they deal in drugs.

In a ceremony at the city hall to announce victory over drugs in the capital, governor Samak Sundaravej said 1,780 communities, 1,600 schools and 1,200 enterprises were now drug free.

He attributed the success to good cooperation from Bangkok police, staff of state agencies and state enterprises, executives of state and private schools, owners of several enterprises, staff of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and communities.

``This does not mean that drug problems have disappeared, but is intended to affirm the determination of all parties to continue fighting against social problems until they are eradicated,'' Mr Samak said.

According to the Interior Ministry, a total of 82,247 villages _ or 100% of the set target _ are now drug free.

A total of 327,224 drug addicts, 48% higher than the set target of 220,937, have undergone a rehabilitation process.

As for suspected drug producers and traders, 52,347 were arrested, slightly above the target of 51,516.

Legal action has been taken against 1,257 state officials involved in the drug trade.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board and Anti-Money Laundering Officer seized assets from suspected drug dealers and producers worth 1.791 billion baht from Feb 1-April 30 and another 1.941 billion baht from May 1-Nov 30.

--Bangkok Post 2003-12-02