THAKSIN SETS 3-MONTH DEADLINE IN ANTI-DRUG WAR

BANGKOK - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has set an ambitious target for
his officials in the war against the illicit drug trade - he has given
authorities till April 30 to make sure that 'every square inch' of Thailand
is free of drugs.

The Bangkok Post reported that operations in all provinces would be
rated for their success when the clock strikes 9 pm on April 30, and
provincial governors and police chiefs who performed poorly would lose
their jobs.

At a briefing for more than 1,000 governors, police and military
personnel, Mr Thaksin said he would no longer tolerate drug problems
and promised to match cruelty with cruelty.

'Drug traders are unkind towards our children so we will be unkind
towards them,' he was quoted as saying.

'I want to see every square inch getting X-rayed and authorities
making a clean sweep of drugs in every area within three months from
now,' he said.

Pointing out that buying drugs on Thai streets was as easy as buying
chewing gum, he remarked: 'It is more difficult to buy gum in
Singapore than to buy drugs in Thailand.'

At the meeting, the Bangkok Post said Mr Thaksin called for closer
cooperation between provincial administrations and police in their
anti-drug campaigns, adding it was impossible that provincial
governors, police chiefs and district chiefs were unaware of drug
traffickers or users in their respective areas.

He warned authorities against sitting back and doing nothing to stop
the spread of drugs.

'Don't make the interior minister act as a police inspector. You are
finished if you do not do your job,' he said.

The anti-drug campaign is slated to start at 9 am on Feb 1.