UNAIDS SPEAKS OUT OVER 2ND CRACKDOWN

'Rehabilitation of Addicts More Urgent'

The UNAids organisation has expressed concern over the second phase of
the government's war on drugs, saying more attention should be paid to
the rehabilitation of addicts, many of whom carry the deadly disease.

UNAids deputy executive director Kathleen Cravero raised the issue
during a meeting on Tuesday with Justice Minister Pongthep
Thepkanjana.

She also called for authorities to make a clear distinction between
traffickers and users.

"With the launch of the crackdown on drug traffickers, the outreach
programmes to the drug users should also be made clear and
intensified, so that they're not targeted," she said.

The government came under fire from the United Nations over its
initial crackdown, which left more than 2,000 suspects dead, many in
confrontations with police.

Though she was assured by the minister the war would focus exclusively
on traffickers, she felt the government should implement equally
high-profile measures on rehabilitating drug addicts and preventing
HIV/Aids among users.

Ms Cravero said it was important to take measures toward introducing
outreach programmes so the mistakes were not repeated.

She said Thailand's response to HIV/Aids had not evolved at the same
pace as the occurrence of the disease.

Despite being successful in controlling the rate of new HIV infections
in the past 15-20 years, the disease was on the rise among specific
groups, like drug users, said Ms Cravero.

UNAids estimates that 60% of intravenous drug users in Thailand are
infected with HIV.

She praised the Justice Ministry's agreement to collaborate with the
UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in making a rapid assessment of
the HIV/Aids situation and treatment in Thai prisons, which she called
"a positive sign".

However, Ms Cravero said authorities should be cautioned about the
importance of respecting the rights of prisoner.

Mr Pongthep said the matter should further be discussed with the
Corrections Department.