THREE-MONTH WAR ON DRUGS LAUNCHED

The government yesterday launched its drug suppression campaign at a
ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The war on drugs is scheduled for November to January.

In his speech, Somchai encouraged authorities to devote their full
attention to fighting drug trafficking although he cautioned them
that his government will not condone silence killings, which had
cast a shadow over the 2003 campaign against illicit drugs.

Thaksin launched his war on drugs in 2003. Human rights groups have
said that at least 2,500 people were killed in extrajudicial
killings during the campaign.

Somchai, however, said Thaksin was not responsible for the deaths.

"In fact, those people had committed wrongdoings. They were not
extrajudicial killings by police. They were killed by drug dealers,"
he said, repeating the government line at the time.

The fight against traffickers will strictly follow prescribed legal
procedure, he assured.

He also called for stepping up the awareness campaign so that young
people realise the harmful effects of drug abuse.