Yingluck Pledges To Eradicate 80% Of Drugs Within One Year

[Orac]

Drugs is a hot topic in Thailand and it appears that the PM is putting some effort in to dealing with it. Whether it will work or not is questionable and I would be amazed if she pulls it off but, given that it doesn't appear to involve shooting loads of potential druggys and has a strong element of rehabilition if reports are correct then it seems worthy of being supported rather than ridiculed.

Ridiculous claims for political gain are par for the course here when it comes to drugs such as claims to have eradicated the problem previously as per Thaksin or to get all drug addicts clean across the country in a week as stated by the previous government...

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255402170016

Just because previous efforts have failed doesn't mean that they should give up though.

[hellodolly]

lol, I knew this thread would end up filled with boatloads of whining from expats who wish Thailand to remain as a 3rd world country.

I am happy to hear about a new war on drugs, I think this is great news!.. I doubt that this is going to work, but at least it is a step in the right direction. The fight for what's right must go on. Lets hope trafficking and prostitution is next.

Beg to differ. It is just another step in the wrong direction.

The only country that has had any success in dealing with the problem is Portugal. They took a different approach and as a result the number of addicts has gone down and the crime that goes with the drug trade has receded.

Show me one country that has had any success in their war on drugs. War is a losing battle.It cost's money to fight it and it cost money to prosecute the offenders that are caught and it cost money to feed and house them after they are convicted. All the time some one else has stepped into the shoes they wore and is carrying on the business..

[terryp]

When most Western Governments are seriously talking about legalization of so called illegal drugs? these donkeys are still spewing the same old garbage to keep the un-educated poor of Thailand in the same "it must be good" mind set.

Absolute <deleted>

The best thing that could happen is for all these so-called politicians; is to step outside their fluffy little bubbles and realise it is a big world out there and whatever they want if people want it more they have no chance in stopping it , just look at the trillions the US has spent on Drug suppression and of course drug supply

Yingluck must be running out of Ideas or Money

[gemini81]

Yak Yak Yak same way her brother said he could do it in a month, she is proving that big mouths run in the family.

Isn't that the bottom line?! Hard to fathom why she would make impossible claims, which result in losing credibility. I guess because idiots believe her, or don't care about broken promises, like the ones who still pledge allegiance to her brother.

All of her claims thus far have been hot air. Rarely does she talk, and when she does it is just fantasy talk. She's really showing her lack of experience. Wish there were some positive attributes to mention about her, but there really aren't too many...other than maybe 20 years ago, she could have been an ok looking show pony, but those days are already over too.

[gemini81]

When most Western Governments are seriously talking about legalization of so called illegal drugs? these donkeys are still spewing the same old garbage to keep the un-educated poor of Thailand in the same "it must be good" mind set.

Absolute <deleted>

The best thing that could happen is for all these so-called politicians; is to step outside their fluffy little bubbles and realise it is a big world out there and whatever they want if people want it more they have no chance in stopping it , just look at the trillions the US has spent on Drug suppression and of course drug supply

Yingluck must be running out of Ideas or Money

She doesn't have her own ideas. She never had to work toward anything, and can't relate to real people.

[Mosha]

I knew this link would come in handy, after the last time someone said the war on drugs was very popular etc etc..

How many headlines like this one are we going to see in the next war? Note a suspect.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Mosha

[maidu]

Our species has been doing drugs since cave-man days - hanging out by the fire pit. Even animals do drugs. There's a clip of a monkey with a large millipede. The monkey is harassing the insect to get it to emit a yellow liquid which the monkey licks off. The monkey gets increasingly stoned and agitated, rolling his eyes, as the clip proceeds.

Yingluck, a whiskey drinker, appoints Chalerm, another whiskey drinker to head her 'war on drugs.' Chalerm will likely deputize one or more of his whiskey drinking sons to assist. A good parent talks to his kids instead of shouts and threats. In chalerm's case, the proof of his ability as a parent is in the character of the kids he brought up.

The people policing drugs need to get acquainted with the various types of drugs. They know all about alcohol. If they can't try the other drugs themselves, they should at least discuss the effects with users. But the current policy is not a discussion, it's a series of edicts.

Yingluck and Chalerm probably don't know the difference between ganga and hemp. If they did, then they could find no reason to criminalize hemp (it's currently a class-5 illegal drug). Even ganga, though it can land you in jail or get you shot by a Thai cop, is relatively harmless - particularly when compared to alcoholic drinks. How often have you heard of a pot smoker beating his wife senseless, or careening his car in to a van full of schoolkids? Never. How often do we hear of this happening with drunks? Every day.

I don't think the situation in the US applies to Thailand. The war on drugs in the US has not only been a complete and utter failure, wasting vast resources, but has produced unintended consequences that nearly eclipse the drug problem itself. It has produced multi-billion dollar organized criminals who have nearly made Mexico a failed state. I have thought for some time that the policy in the US may need to include the free distribution (no, don't tax addicts) of hard drugs in a controlled manner to all registered addicts.

Thailand has a drug problem, but they need to see the situation in Mexico to put it in some perspective.

[KRS1]

Yaba is old news, nowadays Ice has taken its place in most major areas, smuggled in by Iranians and distributed by Africans.

Thailand is like heaven to Africans, better than being at war in their own country. Jail? No big deal, still better than the conditions in Africa.

If i was a criminal id go to Denmark, prisons are like hotels there, and you only have to go on the weekends if its a white collar crime.

[Richard4849]

Yaba is old news, nowadays Ice has taken its place in most major areas, smuggled in by Iranians and distributed by Africans.

Thailand is like heaven to Africans, better than being at war in their own country. Jail? No big deal, still better than the conditions in Africa.

If i was a criminal id go to Denmark, prisons are like hotels there, and you only have to go on the weekends if its a white collar crime.

Yaba is still the staple drug of the working class.

Ice is more expensive, and cocaine more expensive still.

[kerryk]

I don't think the situation in the US applies to Thailand. The war on drugs in the US has not only been a complete and utter failure, wasting vast resources, but has produced unintended consequences that nearly eclipse the drug problem itself. It has produced multi-billion dollar organized criminals who have nearly made Mexico a failed state. I have thought for some time that the policy in the US may need to include the free distribution (no, don't tax addicts) of hard drugs in a controlled manner to all registered addicts.

Thailand has a drug problem, but they need to see the situation in Mexico to put it in some perspective.

I don't think any reasonable person can disagree with the above statement; at least the first part. The only positive examples I can think of of changing drug use habits are the Chinese and opium and more recently Singapore's reduction of drug use. Maybe someone else knows other examples of methods that have worked.

[Bagwan]

A few idiotic post here but what can one expect. I am still amazed how Thai officials come up with these figures and time lines when anyone with a brain knows what they are trying to do would take years to accomplish. I know no brains and no idea about reality.

Of course the drug problem will be solved. The Government will make a start on it as soon as they have solved BKK's traffic problems - as promised how many years ago? I expect the 'ladies' and katoeys to be eradicated from Pattaya's Beach Road too.

What is the Thai for "Pull my other leg. It's got bells on"?

[kraplung]

Only 80 per cent?

[richardblanc]

casino and drug now

poor cops

I hope they did'nt vote RED

[ginjag]

Only 80 per cent?

It was 81% but they rounded the figure down/

Because of the over strong Bht, and the visa regulations - the headline should read, to eradicate all European travelers in 1 Year

[phiphidon]

I realize you're just trolling, but as none were found guilty at a trial, ALL of the people killed were innocent.

.

Perhaps something you should remember when referring to crims etc. Unless found guilty at a trial ALL people are innocent. You would do well to not be so selective when pronouncing your opinions.

[phiphidon]

Whoever has the ideas for these crackdowns? Don't tell me.

[Jingthing]

They elected Thaksin. Thaksin did a drug war before. He feels he needs to live up to his branding and do it again.

But who knows how this is all going to turn out in the end. As Thomas Wolfe wrote --

You can't go home again.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Jingthing

[phiphidon]

They elected Thaksin. Thaksin did a drug war before. He feels he needs to live up to his branding and do it again.

But who knows how this is all going to turn out in the end. As Thomas Wolfe wrote --

You can't go home again.

Wrong answer

[JustCauses]

America's 50 year 'War on Drugs' has been a trillion dollar failure. Thailand follows the US note for note on drug laws and policies, and has also been failing in that regard.

It is amazing isn't it, how the solution is right in our faces, however our egos or is it total corruption that prevents us from fixing the problem...America has failed in its war on drugs, sorry but it is true and the truth hurts...a few of you reading this might even work for the DEA, yeah your busting your butts, however as we've seen in the long run you are failing....Supply and Demand (yes that simple) eliminate the demand and the supply will dry up....if the U.S. had taken all of the money being wasted in the fight and put a drug clinic on every corner and stepped up the drug education programs then all the crap going on in Mexico would essentially disappear...legalize with common sense and educate...hard to believe we have even evolved this far as humans when we still approach problems like cavemen...

To all you just kill'em people, really, F off arm chair warriors, shut up and go back to your freak'n history channel...

It's hard to build a Police State when you spend the money on rehab clinics. The DEA is not in Thailand to remove drugs but to maintain a spy presence. The government doesn't care about winning; they just care about fighting. The president of Mexico declared a Drug War a few years ago and it is tearing Mexico apart. If anyone actually cared about the victims they would go after the organizations that facilitate the growing/ manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and 'protection' of drugs. If you remove the availability of drugs, you will have no users.

This is a good, realistic and Thaksin-free way to look at the issue. A war on drugs, in its essence, is a failed proposition indeed. The question in the end is how much hypocrisy we can take -- anywhere. Unpleasant as it tastes to political palates, decriminalization measures should at least be considered and debated. The bottom line is this: take the profit out of drugs and you've taken out the criminal benefit. Of course, that will never happen, which only erodes the non-rule of law even more. Still, it's interesting that this thread is one of the more active -- and cynical -- ones in the forum. It's really not Thaksin's failed policies that are at issue here for they are bad window dressing; rather, it's everyone's party being ruined in costly, dangerous and unjust ways. All of that said, the sad fact is that foreigners here get away with far more drug use and narcotic mischief making than do Thais. Case in point: disco pee pee tests -- the lights come on, the cups come out and farang are usually escorted to the door leaving the locals as the only accountable souls. Contrary to what another poster said that this new war on drugs will somehow unfairly target farangs, the Thai reality is that Thais -- likely the poor and defenseless -- will suffer (again). Intended or not, drug wars always target the poor. Sure, there will be a token farang bust here and there, but in the end it's not expats who will pay any appreciable part of the price of what is certain to be a dubious undertaking. It's not Thaksin, it's not Chalerm, it's a forked-tongue world society that just can't get real about the issue, regardless of any Thai nuances or hijinks. It's a global failure about to get hyper-localized in a bad way. Just don't think that it's somehow going to be at the expense of the white man.

Edited September 12, 2011 by JustCauses

[Buchholz]

I realize you're just trolling, but as none were found guilty at a trial, ALL of the people killed were innocent.

.

Perhaps something you should remember when referring to crims etc. Unless found guilty at a trial ALL people are innocent. You would do well to not be so selective when pronouncing your opinions.

yet more trolling...

Maybe if you could be more specific in your accusations rather than some overly-generalized, un-referenced malarkey.

[maidu]

Will clone Yingluck revive her brother's other failed policy - revolving around the continuing unrest in southern Thailand - by copying his draconian policy of shooting (and otherwise killing) protesters?

More on topic: Thailand rates among the highest in the world for HIV transmission rates for needle users among druggies. A major reason for that is its policy (also copied from the US) of not offering clean needles to druggies. In contrast, countries like Switzerland and Holland have nearly zero HIV transmission from needles because of their saner policies of treating drug users like patients rather than criminals.

Some reasons why drugs should be legalized:

>>> avoid criminalizing large segments of the populace. Instead, will enable them to discuss their issues and seek help - on their way (hopefully) to a healthier lifestyle.

>>> avoid empowering drug dealers

>>> ensure cleaner drugs and will lessen HIV transmission

>>> generate some tax revenue from legal drugs (oops, almost forgot, Thais don't pay taxes. They got a boost from their poster boy, Thaksin, who's the #1 champion of tax avoidance).

>>> might hurt mega profits of the #1 most harmful drug in the world (which is also legal) namely: alcohol. Which is a major reason why there is a silly 'War on Drugs."

If I manufactured motorbikes, and was able to lobby politicians to ban all other types of transport, it would sure as shittin' increase my sales, would it not?

[phiphidon]

I realize you're just trolling, but as none were found guilty at a trial, ALL of the people killed were innocent.

.

Perhaps something you should remember when referring to crims etc. Unless found guilty at a trial ALL people are innocent. You would do well to not be so selective when pronouncing your opinions.

yet more trolling...

Maybe if you could be more specific in your accusations rather than some overly-generalized, un-referenced malarkey.

This reference OK?

Shame not enough people considered the questions prior to the crims getting voted in... now, it's too late.

http://www.thaivisa....ay-plan-unfair/

[Buchholz]

Perhaps something you should remember when referring to crims etc. Unless found guilty at a trial ALL people are innocent. You would do well to not be so selective when pronouncing your opinions.

yet more trolling...

Maybe if you could be more specific in your accusations rather than some overly-generalized, un-referenced malarkey.

This reference OK?

Shame not enough people considered the questions prior to the crims getting voted in... now, it's too late.

http://www.thaivisa....ay-plan-unfair/

Still attempting to drag something out of nothing? Did you not get mocked enough by others for your ridiculous presumptions when you posted this nonsense earlier in a different thread?

"Crims" does not equate to convicted. Sorry for you if you don't hang with slang.

Anyway, wanna try again with another specific incident? Your plural use would indicate there are others. Something where I make the same erroneous contentions as Richard4849?

.

[timekeeper]

THAILAND-newly announced drug crackdown hub of Asia..........

[TAWP]

I disagree with your premise that they got it "horribly wrong" last time.

So if only 50% of your family was picked off due to your neighbors dealing drugs it would be an acceptable loss?

[TAWP]

I disagree thait it was at least 50% wrong. More like 99% right, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, for you, your opinion has no bearing on things.

Facts disagrees with you. If that matters.

[macdaddy]

No country has ever eradicated drugs. Not even the death penalty can stop it, because addicts cannot think rationally when it comes to drugs! That is the definition of an addict! You cant scare them off drugs because the idea of being off drugs is far scarier.

Weed, though is different. It is too fun and too harmless to ever be eradicated.

I don't live in Thailand yet, but from what I hear and read it has a far lower drug using rate than here in the US. We have a far better police force, better strategy, more money and more technology to fight our own war on drugs and it has clearly failed.

Most posting on this forum would probably be surprised to hear that most users, (and addicts) are regular, hardworking, otherwise good people, store clerks, businessmen, students ect. These are good people who mostly use just to unwind or add excitement to the night. The same way you do with your beer Chong, and Sangsom whiskey. Hell there is plenty of medical documentation that shows that it is even safer than alcohol.

And for anyone who thinks that the Police action eradicated marijuana and opium is clearly wrong. They weren't eradicated, they just went out of style, same thing in the west.

[92302]

during the last drug war our village lost a wife and husband to this.

they had won the thai lottery and so were buying a lot of new stuff. pickup, land etc. they preferred to remain anonymos and keep their win to themselves. the locals started gossiping that they were drug dealers, so the police came and executed them both. they took their pickup and cash. only later was it found out they won the lottery and were infact innocent. the police to this day have never gave back the cash or pickup.

That's one of the most disturbing things I've ever read, if that doesn't shock you then your either insane, lived here to long or both.

[Buchholz]

from what I hear and read it has a far lower drug using rate than here in the US. We have a far better police force, better strategy, more money and more technology to fight our own war on drugs and it has clearly failed.

Interestingly each country also have a Drug Czar.

American Richard Kerlikowske and Thai Chalerm Yoobamrung

.

Edited September 18, 2011 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

Still attempting to drag something out of nothing? Did you not get mocked enough by others for your ridiculous presumptions when you posted this nonsense earlier in a different thread?

"Crims" does not equate to convicted. Sorry for you if you don't hang with slang.

Anyway, wanna try again with another specific incident? Your plural use would indicate there are others. Something where I make the same erroneous contentions as Richard4849?

.

Well actually no. I was just wondering if you had it within you to name names of those who are criminals that are serving in the present government. Obviously not. Therefore one of your usual techniques of throwing out accusations here, there and everywhere hoping someone will back you up. Remember you inferences on Yingluck and Mingkwan?

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Criminal \Crim"i*nal\, <a class="pos" href="http://define.com/noun">noun One who has commited a crime; especially, one who is found guilty by verdict, confession, or proof; a malefactor; a felon.

http://define.com/criminals

Edited September 18, 2011 by phiphidon