EDITORIAL

Draconian bill ignores the cause of the drug issue

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The deputy PM wants to execute drug convicts on death row, thus completely missing the point that this is a social problem, not just a legal one

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung has vowed to push for law amendments to have drug convicts executed 15 days after the Appeal Court's verdict upholds a death sentence.

Chalerm's logic is that if drug convicts are simply jailed, they could deal drugs from behind bars and mingle with other criminals.

"Criminal meeting criminal equals arch-criminal. I won't listen to the National Human Right Commission or NGOs, because I answer to the country and the public," Chalerm said.

He was speaking after presiding over a press briefing on the Wednesday drug bust that seized 1,020,000 methamphetamine tablets and 20 kilograms of crystal meth (also known as ice) worth Bt400 million.

Drugs are a problem and a challenge for law enforcement, indeed. This past month alone has seen some serious drug hauls in the northern region of the country. Millions of methamphetamine tablets worth billions of baht have been seized over this past month alone in the northern provinces. The thought of these illicit drugs reaching schoolyards is a scary prospect for most parents.

But what is even scarier is when you have a controversial politician taking up controversial measures because he and his party are in desperate need of political capital from the public.

Chalerm and his Pheu Thai people know how Thailand's reputation suffered internationally during the 2003 so-called "war on drugs" carried out by Thaksin Shinawatra, the then premier. About 2,500 people were killed during that three-month campaign. The authorities claimed that all but a handful of the deaths were the result of bad guys killing bad guys.

Nobody in their right mind believed this claim, but most people were so tired and disgusted with the drug problem that they were willing to turn a blind eye to the illegal and controversial aspect of the campaign. If anything, this reflects the weakness in our society. Any society that is quick to employ controversial, knee-jerk measures, rather than abide by the legal due process and respect for the rule of law, is a weak society.

But the drug war and the extrajudicial killings were popular and generated a lot of political points for Thaksin.

Today, nearly a decade later, Chalerm is toying with a similar idea, and the executions will be carried out in the name of the state.

Given the fact that our society hasn't matured much over the past nine years, the country's law-makers will probably pass this controversial bill so that they can't be accused of being soft on drugs.

Indeed, it's easier to pass such a bill instead of debating the merit of it. That's how shallow our politicians have become, regardless of what party they represent.

One of the biggest ironies of all this is that the man who is pushing for this law is not exactly what you could call a "clean" politician. His record, not to mention those of his sons, is not exactly spotless when it comes to controversy. Chalerm represents everything that is wrong with Thai politics. But then again, there is a thing called a political mandate, and like it or not, we have to live with it if we are to stay on a democratic course.

But while Chalerm may be classified as morally bankrupt, unfortunately he has got a great deal of political capital among his peers because he is willing to do the dirtiest of political work for his master Thaksin and his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck.

Thai gutter politics aside, Chalerm's idea is doomed to fail even if it is passed into law because it totally ignores the root causes of drug abuse. This a social problem, not just a legal one, and it is what all governments continually fail to understand and act upon. Again, it is easier to come up with benchmarks such as body counts for drug-dealers, to keep voters happy and safe, but it's harder to talk about education, employment, social mobility - or lack thereof - that push people into lives of drugs and crime.

-- The Nation 2012-03-24

But the drug war and the extrajudicial killings were popular and generated a lot of political points for Thaksin.

Today, nearly a decade later, Chalerm is toying with a similar idea, and the executions will be carried out in the name of the state.

And that's what it is all about. Popularity with the masses.

The dealers in line for execution are unlikely to be any big kingpins. More likely mid level to low level dealers who don't have the money and/or influence to avoid arrest first place.

This editorial is preposterous babel and asinine. Based on the headline, one would assume that the editorial would address the real/true "cause of the drug issue." But instead, it turns out to be an asinine indictment of Chalerm rather than addressing the any causes of the drug trade and issues. How could any editorial on this supposed topic not reference corruption, graft, vice, greed, complacency, manipulation of law, and favoring privileged class to say the least. Not mentioning and amplifying these issues is an astonishing omission. Not mentioning or amplifying even one of these issues is an embarrassing disgrace for the Thai press. The newspaper editorial staff and leadership should be ashamed. What low professional standards apply to The Nation and its representation of the causes of the drug "issue."

It will be interesting to see if any police or government officials ever face the death penalty. Seems just the lower level people get in trouble.

If the Thai government (any government for this matter) were genuinely serious about eradicating drugs, they would look into 'why are people using drugs?'

I don't use drugs because I was educated on their effects. Apparently you can go paranoid, it can make your heart race, your blood pressure can go low so you feel a bit woozy, etc. I don't know if there are any negative effects.

No one here would dare look into why people are doing drugs because for the most part it's obvious.

It seems they may have found several sources for the ingrediants for the cooking of drugs. Wonder if these people/instuation heads, will be given the same.

The finger pointing/blame to bordering countries by Thai government spokesmen, as the suppliers of the popular drugs, apparently cannot see/consider that a lot of the material is being furnished by the medical facilities right under their own jurisduction.

Shut down the supply to the cook off factories,as well as those involved, and you won't have to chase the little fish who transport/peddle the product.

So what about the hospital seniors who have supposedly sold millions of tablets which contain the base ingredients for ya ba to unscrupuloursddrug manufacturers.

Surely these people are just as quilty as the people who mix it all together and form it into tablets, and just as quilty as the sellers.

In the last few months there have been a large numbers of big drug hauls, but again, not one senior drug lord has been caught, suely this is not a cooncidence.

Chalerm's logic is that if cop killers are let free, they could become politicians in the Puea Thaksin Party and mingle with other criminals.

"Criminal meeting criminal equals arch-criminal. I won't listen to the National Human Right Commission or NGOs, because I answer to the country and the public," Chalerm said.

The devil in the detail. Typical Thai mentality here: Most don't want to LISTEN to external ideas. Fair enough if they listened (to outside ideas), considered them, weighed up the options and rejected the (outside ideas), but not even listening speaks volumes about the Thai psyche.

Even when they do listen they usually reject outside ideas because they are outside ideas, not because they are not good ideas.

Very nice to see Chalerm getting the pasting he deserves and the drugs issue being intelligently defined. More please, The Nation.

"Criminal meeting criminal equals arch-criminal. I won't listen to the National Human Right Commission or NGOs, because I answer to the country and the public," Chalerm said.

Isn’t it a bit scary to hear this from a deputy prime minister? And why does a Buddhist country enjoy the luxury of having a Human Rights Commission (established 1990!)? Or was this just a decoration stunt by the TAT?

Chalerm's logic is that if drug convicts are simply jailed, they could deal drugs from behind bars and mingle with other criminals.

…and who gets the major share of the dealing in prison? I hope not those who get paid to prevent it!

One of the biggest ironies of all this is that the man who is pushing for this law is not exactly what you could call a "clean" politician. His record, not to mention those of his sons, is not exactly spotless when it comes to controversy.

There must be a lot of people out there still hoping what goes around comes around. I maybe old fashioned, however, I believe it is essential for any civilization that implemented laws apply to everyone and not just to those who can’t effort the membership in a Golf Club!

People use drugs as a tool or means too escape and or forget realty.

In most peoples cases the realty is poverty with its side afects.

For them its even harder to say no to dealing and taking of drugs.

These people get arrested and charged , then quickly shot.

Its the people that do have a choice but out of greed sell large scale drugs

to the small fry dealers,that need to be dealt with , but are untouchable

because of asociation with the top echaleon.

These people get the chance too flee the scene and disapear across the boarders.

If Chalerm had said all death sentences, having been through all the appeals processes are to be carried out within 15 days of the expiration of that due process; fair enough. But to say that this is applicable to only those who have been convicted for drugs offences is utter nonsense. Then to qualify it with, "criminal meeting criminal equals arch-criminal", is crass to the extreme. How does he classify murderers, rapists, arsonists and so on? This is a man who is meant to be a law maker and a qualified lawyer to boot and a responsible member of the Thai Society. My view is he is an irresponsible loose cannon, who in most other Societies would not be allowed to occupy the position he does in the Thai Government. His Constituents and Party would have withdrawn their support from him due to his radical views and bringing the Government into disrepute, and had him removed as an MP. Oh, sorry I forgot TIT.

Well the murder of 2500 people alleged to be involved in drugs in 2003 did absolutely nothing to stem the problem. Plenty of people filled the 'vacancies' to earn the cash! What good will this do? Wouldn't it be sweet justice after the bill is inevitably passed for Chalerm's cop killing son to be found drunk in a nightclub with an ounce of coke or yabba in his pocket.

Very nice to see Chalerm getting the pasting he deserves and the drugs issue being intelligently defined. More please, The Nation.

Not so long ago Chalerm and his family were deemed so repugnant that no political party would ever want to be associated with him again. Yet now he has become the moral conscience of PT. Amazing.

Edited March 24, 201214 yr by bigbamboo

The Age of Prohibition.

It has to end, governments need to accept that they have lost the battle, and take control of the supply of narcotics. Remove the profit from the cartels, and guarantee supply through drug stores and chemists.

Treat the issue as a mental health issue, give free class A drugs to addicts under supervision, and be severe on people that continue to deal in drugs, ( there will always be someone with a new magic potion ).

The taxation raised could be used to rehabilitate addicts, and law enforcement agencies throughout the world would breathe a sigh of relief as they would spend less time chasing their tail.

I could go on but you get the idea.

But the drug war and the extrajudicial killings were popular and generated a lot of political points for Thaksin.

Today, nearly a decade later, Chalerm is toying with a similar idea, and the executions will be carried out in the name of the state.

And that's what it is all about. Popularity with the masses.

The dealers in line for execution are unlikely to be any big kingpins. More likely mid level to low level dealers who don't have the money and/or influence to avoid arrest first place.

Exactly.

i didn't read the article yet, but simply seeing the word 'draconian' in the title is more than enough to sell it to me!

i find people arguing for more of the same FAILING drug policies, absolutely ridiculous... and just plain ignorant.

Virtually every time this man makes a statement-of any sort- he further demonstrates his lack of intelligence, his greed, his defiance of logic. He reminds me somewhat of a famous American evangelical who described the cure for rape in castration of those convicted. No matter how many people are executed, the demand for drugs will go on, and there will be other sources for them. Every nation has learned this. Drug dealing should be a crime, but Chalerm is taking the approach of Saudi Arabia to the problem. Severe, even barbaric, but it will not make a dent in the ongoing problem.

After his war on drugs diden't Thaksin declare

Thailand à drug free zone?

"Criminal meeting criminal equals arch-criminal. I won't listen to the National Human Right Commission or NGOs, because I answer to the country and the public," Chalerm said.

Looks like Chalerm is going for a general cull of the nation if he thinks this will work. As we have seen many times before, it is only the small players that are generally convicted; as soon as one goes there are two available to take there place. The day when a major player or a member of the police or armed forces fall into the convicted catagory, then I may rethink.

What is to happen to those locked up at the minute on appeal? Are the appeals going to be quashed and the convicted executed? Or is it a "grandfather" system? If not, and the bill is passed, then there will be mass executions planned for the near future! That should please the human rights people and enhance the name of Thailand once again.

There goes about 25% of the population of my village if they get caught:D

There goes about 25% of the population of my village if they get caught:D

Could be some cheap land deals coming up if anyone grassed them up

So what about the hospital seniors who have supposedly sold millions of tablets which contain the base ingredients for ya ba to unscrupuloursddrug manufacturers.

Surely these people are just as quilty as the people who mix it all together and form it into tablets, and just as quilty as the sellers.

In the last few months there have been a large numbers of big drug hauls, but again, not one senior drug lord has been caught, suely this is not a cooncidence.

Also all they are doing is looking to look good.

The people in the know know that all the drugs they are making such a big deal about are a mere fraction of whats out there.

As you say the uncontrolled sales of the ingredients and the fact that a lot of the doctor's recommend some of the drugs is being overlooked. These are two things they can do that would make a difference.

Problem being they wont make the head lines so the Government ignore them. They try to make their pitiful effort look like it is a big deal and that make the headlines.

edit

Forgot to mention that Portugal has not solved all their drug problems but they have lessened them quite a bit with a more humane approach than <deleted> them all put them in jail and execute them.

Edited March 24, 201214 yr by hellodolly

"I require the death penalty for everyone who yearns for the death penalty (except me). "

(Wolfgang Neuss, antifascist comedian in Germany)

Edited March 24, 201214 yr by lungmi

This editorial is preposterous babel and asinine. Based on the headline, one would assume that the editorial would address the real/true "cause of the drug issue." But instead, it turns out to be an asinine indictment of Chalerm rather than addressing the any causes of the drug trade and issues. How could any editorial on this supposed topic not reference corruption, graft, vice, greed, complacency, manipulation of law, and favoring privileged class to say the least. Not mentioning and amplifying these issues is an astonishing omission. Not mentioning or amplifying even one of these issues is an embarrassing disgrace for the Thai press. The newspaper editorial staff and leadership should be ashamed. What low professional standards apply to The Nation and its representation of the causes of the drug "issue."

Uh? How would you write it?

If the Thai government (any government for this matter) were genuinely serious about eradicating drugs, they would look into 'why are people using drugs?'

I don't use drugs because I was educated on their effects. Apparently you can go paranoid, it can make your heart race, your blood pressure can go low so you feel a bit woozy, etc. I don't know if there are any negative effects.

No one here would dare look into why people are doing drugs because for the most part it's obvious.

Not trying to make trouble! But what drugs are you referring to? Paranoid? Heart and blood pressure problems?

Who or how were you educated? People have been self medicating since the dawn of time for a variety of reasons. The war on drugs is a failure at best. All of the money and time spent on a failed policy could be better used in better education and rehabilitation. Drug use is a social issue and a medical issue. To criminalize this issue and not look at it from a medical/social point is criminal in itself.

if caught with big stash more than once in your life, than death should be an option for poisening a whole population just for a quick buck