Drug-free ASEAN in 3 years affirmed

BANGKOK, Aug 28 - Ten ASEAN member countries will reaffirm a joint intention to evolve Southeast Asia as a drug-free region in 2015—the year the ASEAN Economic Community is officially launched.

Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, secretary general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, said that ministers on narcotics from 10 ASEAN countries and the ASEAN secretary general will meet in Bangkok on Aug 31 to exchange views and information on narcotics suppression, narcotics-related laws and extradition of narcotics criminals.

The upcoming meeting, he said, was also aimed at strengthening the relationships of member countries, given an earlier-declared joint intention to develop ASEAN region as drug-free zone within 2015.

International drug trafficking networks have increasingly intertwined especially along Thailand’s borders with Myanmar and Laos which have been plagued with an increasing number of narcotics production factories, he said.

Pol Gen Adul reported an improved drug situation in Thailand in the last 10 months when more than 65,000 suspects had been arrested on drug charges and more than 400,000 drug addicts have undergone medical treatments.

However, the Narcotics Control Board has kept a closer watch on various communities after receiving complaints from more than 4,000 communities about rampant drug trafficking. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-28

Here we go again. More false promises to win votes. Are the general public really so gullible?

Never happen, No country in the world can control drug use. As long as obscene proits to made!

What other ways to make obscene profits other than to illegalize it? Look at gambling.

Legalize it and tax it.

Let people make their own life choices.

They are joking? Are they?

.......... and in 'Aseanworld' every day will be the first day of spring,

And every bird will have a new song to sing........

Legalize it and tax it. Let people make their own life choices.

....and ensure cleaner products, and eliminate pushers, have counselors deal with abusers. Decriminalization of ALL drugs makes sense in a hundreds ways, but our sage lawmakers want only ONE legal recreational drug. It's their favored one, and the one they're getting paid (by its makers/dealers) to keep legal. You get ONE guess on which drug that is. Hint: it's Chalerm's drug of choice, though he calls it his 'inner-ear medicine'.

Here we go again. More false promises to win votes. Are the general public really so gullible?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a resounding YES!

Here are two little factoids that lawmakers don't know or don't want to know:

>>>> prescription drugs cause more deaths annually than all illegal drugs combined.

>>>> Alcoholic drugs cause more harm and deaths than prescription and illegal drugs combined, plus it runs up insurance rates for (and commandeers hospital resources from) everyone else.

Here we go again. More false promises to win votes. Are the general public really so gullible?

Voters here are as gullible as they are everywhere else, just look at the clap-trap baffle-garb coming out of Florida right now. A lot of swirling hot air, and I don't mean Issac.

i was lead to believe, in an article early this year, the time line was two years, silly me ,how this is going to be achived , will be interesting.

On the day before this happens the world breaking news will be released that scientists have at last perfected the flying pig.

So who will be accountable if this fails - More grand scheme, with no accountability and ultimately no chance of success especially considering the high levels of corruption in ASEAN countries.

What happened a few days ago to the prision guard who wouldn't turn a blind eye to drugs - Shot and killed. Will his replacement be as courageous to say no again??

Can't believe someone wasted their time writing this nonsense!

At least they are doing something about the situation. Much better than sitting at your keyboards making pointless comments.

Legalize it and tax it. Let people make their own life choices.

....and ensure cleaner products, and eliminate pushers, have counselors deal with abusers. Decriminalization of ALL drugs makes sense in a hundreds ways, but our sage lawmakers want only ONE legal recreational drug. It's their favored one, and the one they're getting paid (by its makers/dealers) to keep legal. You get ONE guess on which drug that is. Hint: it's Chalerm's drug of choice, though he calls it his 'inner-ear medicine'.

Not the complete true...There are several politicians in several countries in the big drug dealing and they want to keep the prices high.

If they are legal the profit is going down.

Who do they think they are kidding? This is the problem with top-down, unaccountable governments: they don't know squat about real life problems - they don't have to.

People in Washington DC and at the embassy here in Bkk must be rolling their eyes, saying, "Oh my god, we know these people."

Whilst usually advocating the legalisation of narcotics, I'm inclined to believe that such a policy would be counter productive in certain countries due to the prevalence of lack of relevant education and personal responsiblity.

Excellent stuff.. applaud this initiative.

Of course after this feat the team will focus on Tsunami free Asia, banning typhoons hitting Taiwan and Philippines, completely eradicating tiger poaching across SE Asia and the Indian subcontinent and lastly in a magnanimous effort to show the world its not just a focus on ASEAN, restoring the Greek economy.

And thats just on the Monday. Tuesday - Friday activities and accomplishments are still to be decided.

Once again another great feat.. AMAZING

In other words:

No more tea, coffee, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, etc. either.

Guess the big shots will need to look for other sources to finance their election campaigns.

At least they are doing something about the situation. Much better than sitting at your keyboards making pointless comments.

Do you really believe they by virtue of this article are DOING something about it ???

If so I have some nice beachfront property you might be interested in... available to be seen only at certain times of the day and lunar cycle but a bargian.

C'mon DJ,... this announcement falls into the same basket as the zero road deaths at Songkran one.. just pure political rhetoric...

I for one would much rather a government say the drug problem is enormous and we dont have the means to effectively tackle it however we will embark on an education program and enlist assistance from the private sector for funding .

Drug-free ASEAN in 3 years affirmed

Obviously Chalerm isn't involved ... otherwise it would be 3 months.

"Drug-free ASEAN in 3 years affirmed"

Then we'll see an end to prostitution and Thailand offering land plots to foreigners on Tourist Visas.

The odds of seeing Haley's Comet 2 times in 76 years is a lot higher than a Drug-Free "Asean" in 3 years or a 100 years

What are these people smoking!

Gimme the balloon. Should have a good, free ride with this much hot air!

In a Horse's Rectum!

always good for a laugh this drug free ASEAN thing!! What a load of rubbish, only believed by the truly gullible!

Drug-free ASEAN in 3 years affirmed

Perhaps a few dozen zeros should be added behind the "3"

then this statement may hold some water...albeit while still

leaking...

Legalize it and tax it.

Let people make their own life choices.

OMG