GOVT CONSIDERING SPEEDY EXECUTIONS OF DRUG CONVICTS

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's new government wants to speed up the
execution of drug traffickers by shortening the process of royal clemency,
a Cabinet minister said Friday.

"Speeding up of execution is needed to deter people from jumping into the
habit of drugs trafficking,'' Thammarak Issarangkura na Ayuthaya, a
minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said.

Thammarak, who is in charge of the anti-narcotics police, said he would
consult with the office of King Bhumibol Adulyadej to amend the law so that
condemned traffickers can be executed if the king does not respond to their
clemency plea within 60 days.

At present, the government cannot carry out an executions unless the king
rejects the mandatory appeal.

Thammarak's proposal came as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra declared an
all-out effort Friday against the threat of narcotics, especially
methamphetamine flowing into the country.

"The prime minister has ordered the launching of all measures to cripple
drugs syndicates and to stop the drug flow into Thailand,'' police Lt. Gen.
Nopadol Somboonsab told reporters after meeting with Thaksin.

Police will follow a new strategy of "decrease consumption, cut off
traffickers and destroy the producers,'' he said.

According to government figures, the Narcotics Control Bureau confiscated
6.7 tons of methamphetamine tablets in 2000, up from 804 kilograms (1,768
pounds) five years ago. Heroin seizures dropped from 405 kilograms (891
pounds) in 1996 to 360 kilograms (792 pounds) in 1996.

The NCB estimated that more than 2 million Thais are addicted to
methamphetamine

The drug has "invaded into all sector of our society,'' Nopadol said.

Corrections Department statistics show that more than 62 percent of the
220,000 inmates were convicted of narcotic offenses, especially
methamphetamine trafficking.

Thailand says drug lords in neighboring Myanmar manufacture
methamphetamines and smuggle them here.