WAR'S NOT OVER YET

The government's successes in clamping down on drug trafficking have been
considerable, but the pressure has to be kept up before a real victory can
be declared

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched the War on Drugs on January 3,
2003 in response to His Majesty the King's comments on December 4, 2002
about the dangers to the nation's youth presented by drug use. It was
estimated that over three million people in the country were addicted to
drugs, mostly ya ba (amphetamines). A large number of those were said to be
school-age children in cities and small villages across the nation.

Despite crticism from local and international human rights organisations on
the high number of unexplained deaths associated with the drug war, most
communities praised the government for its real and noticeable successes in
curtailing the drug trade.

The prime minister declared victory on December 3 last year, but the
government's recent actions show they are aware that a continued effort is
needed to win over the drug problem decisively and definitely.

The PM presided over a Cabinet meeting on March 8 of this year to come up
with a strategy and tactics for a new 90-day comprehensive campaign on
drugs, which started in early March and lasts until June 5 as a part of the
third phase of the War on Drugs. In the meeting it was clear that the
government's assets seizures and forfeiture measures provided for in the
Money Laundering Control Act of 1999 are the favoured weapons in the newest
offensive, which will go after the big fish in the drug trade.

ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED

Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, also the Director of the
National Command Centre for Combating Drugs (NCCD), said at the meeting in
early March that because of the drug campaign the availability of drugs has
been tremendously reduced _ especially methamphetamines, but also opium,
heroin and marijuana.

''However, the drug interceptions by officials have made the ya ba and
heroin trading groups divert their smuggling routes to the Northeast
instead (of Bangkok),'' he told the PM. Moreover, some areas, especially
along the borders, have reported a substantial anount of ongoing drug trade
and distribution. A recent ABAC (Assumption University) poll revealed that
96.3 percent of the public was still concerned that the drug problem would
make a strong comeback despite the recent successes.

The general said to eradicate the drugs from communities and convince the
public that the government has a very strong determination to tackle the
drug problem, the NCCD would focus all of its resources on target areas in
the nation's towns and cities and along the border.

The major task will be to crack down on the networks of the major drug
traffickers and also to take criminal and disciplinary actions against
state officials who reportedly have connections with the drug dealers.

''We will go after corrupted state officials and prominent drug dealers in
schools, workplaces, dormitories, rented houses and congested areas within
90 days,'' said the general.

The general said that pressure would be put on the drug pushers to turn
themselves in to the authorities or they would face arrest and forfeiture
of their assets. Drug abusers and addicts will be encouraged to go into the
rehabilitation process.

He also said strict measures would be imposed to control the drug
distributing areas _ schools, workplaces, service and entertainment spots _
which would be under the close watch of the police and also officials at
relevant agencies. At the meeting it was made clear that all government
agencies will be involved in this latest anti-drug push.

For example, schools and educational institutes will be supervised under
the Education Ministry, while factories and other sorts of workplaces will
be under the Labour Ministry.

Youth hangouts in Bangkok will be supervised by the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA) and those upcountry by provincial operation centres.
Creative, alternative activities such as part-time jobs or camping trips
will be promoted as well for students during vacations by the Education and
Labour ministries.

The Thai Armed Forces and Internal Security Operation Command were assigned
to intercept drug smugglers and to strenghthen their presence in the
villages and communities along the border. Legal action against the major
drug traffickers at the national and provincial levels would be taken care
of by the Royal Thai Police Office, the Office of the Narcotics Control
Board (ONCB), the Anti Money Laundering Office and the Revenue Department.

''Every ministry and all departments must take responsibility, especially
for the actions of state officials involved with drugs or who overlook the
(drug) problems,'' Gen Chavalit insisted.

He told the premier that the new 90-day campaign on drugs was aimed to
create unity between civil, police and military officials and to show
commitment and determination to solve the drug problem in the country.

GOING FOR THE MONEY

An ONCB official said that corrupt officials, drug traffickers and
financiers would have charges brought against them for offences of the
narcotics control acts of 1976 and 1991 and the Money Laundering Control
Act of 1999, as well as on matters relating to tax evasion.

Asset forfeitures from drug dealing would be turned over to the Fund for
the Protection and Suppression of Drugs. Those assets include cash, bank
deposits, residences, land title deeds, vehicles, gold bars, ornaments and
all sorts of other valuables.

''During the first and second phases of the War on Drugs (from
February1-October 26, 2003), we confiscated assets worth over two billion
baht The rest of the major traffickers will face the same fate soon,'' he said.

The official said that 1,946 corrupt state officials had been blacklisted
by June of last year because of information gotten from complaints,
investigations and previous information, and another 127 cases were being
probed further, while accusations against 268 officials were found to be
groundless.

According to an ONCB report, drug distribution has been rapidly decreased
since the declaration of victory in the War on Drugs. Production of
methamphetamines in the country has been way down. But the report warns
that without further serious suppression and monitoring, the drug scourge
might return to former levels. The heroin trade has been reported to be
still alive, with financiers moving in to boost distribution for local
trading and also to ship out of the country.

Marijuana is reportedly being smuggled in over the northeastern border.
Ecstasy, a kind of drug favoured by well-off youngsters at night
entertainment places, is being smuggled from the southern border and being
bought up by small and medium-scale pushers.