THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS MADE PROGRESS

The minister in charge of the war on drugs has already set the victory
date. Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, deputy prime minister in charge of
security matters, said V-day will be Dec 2. That will meet the target of
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for 76 drug-free provinces by the end of
the year. It will also mark the Dec 5 birthday of His Majesty the King. The
double symbolism of the date is clear, but seems to beg the question of how
authorities can be certain they can meet the target so exactly.

The nation has been on a war footing against drugs for more than 10 weeks.
Mr Thaksin ordered the campaign after two years of alternating strong words
and ineffective action against drug peddlers. The prime minister was moved
to organise a national campaign after a strong warning by His Majesty
during last year's birthday celebrations.

Few can doubt the threat to the country from drug trafficking. Regular
users of methamphetamines soared into the millions. It was a seemingly
insatiable addiction, fed by local drug sellers hooked on the profits of
pushing pills made by unfriendly neighbours in northern Burma. Mr Thaksin
had no desire to broach Rangoon and even ordered the army to back down from
a border confrontation. But he took on the Thai traffickers, pushers and
users with a strong campaign that has won backing from voters but raised
serious questions of civil rights.

The war on drugs which began on Feb 1 started and continued with
questionable means. Right from the start, reports poured in of the deaths
of drug dealers. No one can doubt traffickers have strong survival
instincts and undoubtedly moved against would-be informers in their own
midst and in rival gangs. But from Day One there also have been persistent,
credible reports of police abuse of power, intimidation and use of
violence. The government must put such questions to rest. It has promised
investigations of police brutality and murder, and the country has the
right to expect this, and well before Dec 2.

Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha, who once was admired for his firm
insistence on law and order, has turned into a fierce, unapologetic enemy
of drug dealers. He says 25 provinces will be drug free by Aug 12, the
birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. The last batch of provinces will declare
on Dec 2 that they have no pushers, users or drug-running civil servants,
and have rehabilitation facilities for addicts. It's a tall order in a
country where drugs are still freely available, although for a higher price
than three months ago.

The annual United Nations drug report threw responsibility for drugs on
Burma. The country is the world's second biggest producer of opium, but has
been able to reduce that pernicious crop because of the voracious appetite
for methamphetamines in Thailand and neighbours. Speed is a new and even
more profitable drug. It is also the main drug of concern in Japan and the
Philippines. Perhaps 5% of Thais regularly use ya ba, according to
statements by the Public Health Ministry.

The war against this drug invasion has produced casualties. There were
1,035 homicides in February, twice the usual number. The human rights
concern has predictably annoyed Mr Thaksin. He and his ministers have
remained firm in their commitment to uproot the drug problem. Polls show he
has the support of 90% of the nation.

That does not excuse abuses. Extra-judicial killings by abusive police are
a blot on Thailand. More importantly, they set back democracy. But no one
should doubt the need for a war on drugs. Come Dec 2, everyone should hope
the government can back up its claim that Thailand is largely a drug-free
country.