WAR ON DRUGS, THE SECOND WAVE PART TWO

3rd Army chief blames foreign countries and Hi-So users

The Third Army Region is worried about a new wave of drugs being introduced
to teenagers, according to Lieutenant General Phicharnmek Muangmanee, the
commander in chief of the Third Army Region.

Lieutenant General Phicharnmek Muangmanee, commander in chief of the Third
Army Region.

He stated that following the last War on Drugs, amphetamines have become
less available, but new drugs are taking their place. "There are new kinds
of drugs which are replacing the old, such as ice, cocaine, ecstasy and love
drug, and the drug dealers are targeting high society customers who enjoy
the entertainment places at night. These drugs cost much more than other
drugs," he said.

He claims that the distributors of the drugs are capitalists from major
cities of three or four foreign countries. "We have to cooperate with our
neighbouring countries like Burma and Laos to keep a close lookout for drug
smuggling," he told reporters in Chiang Mai recently.

Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat also announced the second wave of the War
on Drugs. He stated that this is in response to the government policy of
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had called on March 8 for provincial
governors, provincial police commanders including the chiefs of different
government organizations concerned to cooperate in drug elimination for the
second time. He also said that he believes the first plan of the War on
Drugs had been proven very successful.

However, PM Thaksin has asked all officers to assist each other to observe
the communities, educational institutes, dormitories and factories. He also
wants soldiers and police to pursue people on the old blacklists. In
addition, officers should provide more training courses informing villagers
who live along the border area to report when they see drug smuggling. The
governmental policy is for eliminating drug use in Thailand, Suwat
concluded.