War On Drugs

PM DECLARES NATION NOW OUT OF DANGER

People Have Their Sons, Daughters Back

Illegal drugs have been eradicated to the point they longer have any great
influence on people's lives, but the fight will continue until Thailand is
completely drug free, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

The government would declare its victory over drugs tomorrow, he said.

It was made possible by the people's contribution of physical and spiritual
forces, and even their lives, to protect their society.

"We are now in a position to declare that drugs, which formerly were a big
danger to our nation, can no longer hurt us. Many Thai people now have
their sons and daughters back," he said.

The prime minister yesterday presented 112 awards to outstanding agencies
and officials who took part in the government's three-month war on drugs
early this year.

Winning agencies received 200,000 baht, 100,000 baht or 50,000 baht,
depending on how they performed.

Sixty-seven people, including officials who were injured in the course of
drug suppression and children of those killed in the campaign, were awarded
50,000 baht and 100,000 baht, respectively _ a combined 13.8 million baht.

The six agencies given outstanding awards were the Narcotics Suppression
Bureau, the Third Army's anti-drug centre, the Provincial Administration
Department's anti-drug centre, Thanyarak Institute, the Interior Ministry's
anti-drugs centre and the Revenue Department.

Five other agencies were honoured for their support _ the Government
Lottery Office, the Narcotics Control Board, the Anti-Money Laundering
Office, the Internal Security Operations Command and the To Be Number One
Project.

Mr Thaksin said the government would give special care to families which
lost their breadwinners in drug operations.

The government would also continue its efforts to eradicate drugs. Society
should not respect people who get rich because they deal in drugs.

In a ceremony at the city hall to announce victory over drugs in the
capital, governor Samak Sundaravej said 1,780 communities, 1,600 schools
and 1,200 enterprises were now drug free.

He attributed the success to good cooperation from Bangkok police, staff of
state agencies and state enterprises, executives of state and private
schools, owners of several enterprises, staff of the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration and communities.

"This does not mean that drug problems have disappeared, but is intended to
affirm the determination of all parties to continue fighting against social
problems until they are eradicated," Mr Samak said.

According to the Interior Ministry, a total of 82,247 villages _ or 100% of
the set target _ are now drug free.

A total of 327,224 drug addicts, 48% higher than the set target of 220,937,
have undergone a rehabilitation process.

As for suspected drug producers and traders, 52,347 were arrested, slightly
above the target of 51,516.

Legal action has been taken against 1,257 state officials involved in the
drug trade.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board and Anti-Money Laundering Officer
seized assets from suspected drug dealers and producers worth 1.791 billion
baht from Feb 1-April 30 and another 1.941 billion baht from May 1-Nov 30.