CALL FOR NEW STRATEGIES TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has called on all
anti-drug networks to meet to devise new suppression strategies.
Pittaya Jinawat, director of the ONCB, made the call in preparation
for the "Second War on Drugs" on November 3 at the Tarin Hotel in Chiang Mai.

He addressed 100 participants from the Provincial Police Bureau Region
5, Office of Primary School Education, student representatives from
both government and private universities, and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) working with youths in slum communities and hill
tribes.

Pittaya said that the NGOs had volunteered to work with the ONCB in
trying to prevent the proliferation of drugs in slums and hill tribe
communities. "Economic problems are behind hill tribes getting
involved in the drug cycle," said Pittaya. Having worked with hill
tribes for over 10 years, he said that discouragement from
non-productive farming and loss of investment were major causes for
their involvement in trafficking.

Pittaya said the government should make more money available to
improve the standard of living of hill tribes to keep them from being
involved in the drug trade.

He said that the "First War on Drugs" had helped reduce the amount of
drugs in hill tribe villages. The campaign had also led to many
properties being confiscated from drug dealers.