Government continues war on drugs, says Thai PM

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government will continue the fight against illegal narcotics as a priority policy platform and will evaluate progress in the next six months, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Monday.

He made the statement during a meeting at Government House with provincial governors and other officials in charge of anti-drugs policy including those from the police and the Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Commission (NPSC).

The prime minister made clear that his government considers illicit drug use, especially among young people, a national threat.

He vowed to suppress trafficking and eradicate illegal drugs and asked responsible agencies not to be complacent.

Earlier, Kitti Limchaikit, secretary-general of the NPSC, suggested that illegal drug use in Thailand became less widespread last year, compared with the year before.

"Our aim is not to halt illegal drug use, but we want to rid the country of all narcotics. We have to continue our efforts relentlessly and need to be on the look-out to detect the problem early," he said.

Gen Surayud asked senior officials to consider a holistic approach to drug problems, saying that sustainable development and self-sufficiency should be promoted to ease poverty and social ills. He also called for the authorities to differentiate between criminals who are involved in drug trafficking and the victims of the addictive substances.

The prime minister also emphasised that the war on drugs must be fought within the rule of law.

"Government officials must act within the law and we will respect human rights," he said.

The deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra initiated war on drugs policy in 2003. Press reports indicate that more than 2,500 people were killed. Human rights critic said a large number were extrajudicially executed.

Thailand's post-coup government has ordered an investigation into the two-year crackdown. The Justice Ministry would conduct the investigation into deaths Thaksin's administration said were largely the result of drug dealers killing each other which right groups said were extra-judicial killings by police.

--TNA 2006-11-28

He vowed to suppress trafficking and eradicate illegal drugs and asked responsible agencies not to be complacent.

He'll be the first one ever then? He might want to make a start from within his own armed forces ranks first.

Government to continue war on drugs: Thai PM

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the government will continue the fight against illegal narcotics as a priority policy platform and will evaluate progress in the next six months, Thai News Agency reported Tuesday.

Surayud made the statement during a meeting Monday at Government House with provincial governors and other officials in charge of anti-drugs policy including those from the police and the Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Commission (NPSC).

The prime minister made clear that his government considers illicit drug use, especially among young people, a national threat.

He vowed to suppress trafficking and eradicate illegal drugs and asked responsible agencies not to be complacent.

Earlier, Kitti Limchaikit, secretary-general of the NPSC, suggested that illegal drug use in Thailand became less widespread last year, compared with the year before.

Surayud called for the authorities to differentiate between criminals who are involved in drug trafficking and the victims of the addictive substances. He also emphasized that the war on drugs must be fought within the rule of law.

The deposed prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, initiated the war on drugs in 2003. Local press reports indicate that more than 2,500 people were killed during the two-year crackdown, which the Thaksin administration said were largely the result of drug dealers killing each other, while opponents and rights groups alleged as extra-judicial killings by police.

The interim government, installed by the military after the Sept. 19 coup, has ordered the Justice Ministry to launch an investigation into the deaths in the anti-drug war.

Source: Xinhua - 28 November 2006