TOUGHER LAW SOUGHT FOR DRUG DEALERS

Sudarat Wants Study On Cheap Speed Pills

Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan wants tougher penalties for
methamphetamine dealers and amendments to speed up the justice process.

She said a proposal will be put to a national seminar on drug control in
Chiang Rai on March 10-11.

Mrs Sudarat said the Food and Drug Administration has run out of storage
space for drugs being held as evidence in court cases.

Health authorities would also discuss plans for greater community
participation in the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

Mrs Sudarat also said suggestions that methamphetamine traffickers could be
put out of business by letting the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation
(GPO) make low-cost speed should be looked into.

"We're not saying whether it would work or not, but we should study all
suggestions. Studying the matter does not mean we will take up the idea,"
she said.

There was concern that making cheap speed available would only result in
greater abuse of the drug, she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he would use the same
strategy which proved successful in fighting communism to combat drugs.

Gen Chavalit said the 66/23 policy was successful in getting communist
insurgents and members of the united front out of the jungle, resulting in
the end of the communist movement in Thailand.

The same strategy could be used to separate drug addicts from producers and
traders.

Addicts would be regarded as patients, not convicts, and be sent to
military camps for treatment and rehabilitation.

Thirty camps had been assigned for the task by Supreme Commander Gen Sampao
Chusri.

At the same time, drastic action would be taken against drug traders and
producers.

The Internal Security Operations Command, which has been restructured to
combat drugs, would be charged with implementing the policy.

Laws would also be amended to provide for heavier penalties on drug dealers
and producers.