THE NEED FOR AN ANTI-DRUG POLICY

The man who co-ordinates the US anti-drug efforts flies into Bangkok this
week. The first problem for this visit is that Thailand has no counterpart
for retired army Gen Barry McCaffrey. That could be the most important
impression left by the US visitor. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai continues to
emphasise that illicit drugs represent the single greatest threat to our
nation. But no one is in charge of the issue.

Gen McCaffrey is visiting China, Hong Kong and Vietnam before his arrival
here. His trip is a reminder that Asia has become a geographical tangent to
the continuing, increasing threat faced by America itself. The United States
faces myriad drug threats, from youth addiction and crime to high-level
corruption in the political and economic spheres. But the top people
involved, Gen McCaffrey included, focus most of their effort on Mexico and
Latin America.

The countries south of the United States supply the bulk of the insatiable,
unquenchable American demand for illegal drugs. Just last week, authorities
arrested and charged 250 people involved in a heroin smuggling operation
based in Mexico. Mexican and Colombian gangs are famous and infamous in
America. Since the drug cartels of Colombia began to grow opium and market
heroin, immediate US attention has focused even more on Latin America, away
from Asia.

Gen McCaffrey is well informed on the Asian problems. After he arrived in
China, he flew almost immediately to Kunming, in Yunnan province. This is
where China touches Burma. Last year, methamphetamine smuggling into Yunnan
increased by 10 times over 1998. Chinese authorities seized 16 tonnes of
"ice", an indication that hundreds of tons got through to the market.

Drug addiction, drug crimes, drug arrests-all have increased by a magnitude
or more in Yunnan. More troubling to the Chinese, to Gen McCaffrey and to
any right-thinking citizen is the increase in Aids cases. Heroin from Burma
has made inroads in the wealthy, coastal cities. It is far from Burma
itself, but a reminder of the problem the Rangoon junta encourages. Chinese
officials told Gen McCaffrey that intravenous drug use is the source of more
than 70% of the half million Chinese known to carry the human
immuno-deficiency virus, HIV.

Gen McCaffrey is learning this week that this pattern is roughly the same in
Hong Kong and Vietnam. It is not different in Thailand. Illicit drugs have
addicted a large percentage of our young people, corrupted too many of our
officials, and continue to undermine our economy. The American's visit
stresses the importance of international co-operation. This is necessary not
only to combat drug gangs, but to share experiences in treating addicts,
educating young people and making our societies safer.

Thai people take second place to no country in their commitment to stem, to
reverse and to end the drug trade. Gen McCaffrey's position has been
criticised and marginalised at various times. Now, he will learn we have our
own problem of how to focus on the issue. Rival anti-drug offices tussle
over who gets the budget, the office and the influence. The armed forces'
efforts to battle drug gangs go unsupported by the police. Police sweeps
against drug-makers fail because the army will not participate.

It is no comfort that the United States has similar problems with its
bureaucracy. The uncomfortable fact is that the Chuan government has said,
correctly, that illicit drugs are our biggest national security threat.
Then, the administration has not dealt efficiently with this threat. Mr
Chuan has made his reputation by organising and leading a fight to restore
our economy. He has failed to organise and lead the fight to defeat the drug
traffickers. Gen McCaffrey's visit serves as a welcome reminder that much
remains to be done.