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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">THE
STRAITS TIMES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">April
1, 2008<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">THAILAND'S
WAR ON DRUGS: A potentially disastrous weapon<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt"><STRONG>By
Pavin Chachavalpongpun<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">THE
Thai government recently announced a new 'war on drugs', to be launched this
month, to curb an alarming surge in the flow of narcotics through the kingdom.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
first 'war on drugs' was launched by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in
2003. Human rights groups claim that this 'war' led to the extra-judicial
killing of more than 2,500 people. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
Thai government estimates that 1.9 million people were either buying or selling
illicit drugs in 2003. Thaksin's tough measures brought that number down to
450,000, but this rose to 570,000 last year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
increasing availability of drugs - mostly methamphetamines, known locally as yaa
baa - has been evident since the military coup of September 2006. The relaxation
of measures since then has contributed to a rise in the cultivation and
production of narcotics in Thailand. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says poppy cultivation in Thailand rose
by 30 per cent during the period, from 157ha in 2006 to 205ha last year.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">But
Bangkok's latest 'war on drugs' is aimed not only at eliminating deadly drugs,
but also at strengthening the power of its political elite. When Thaksin
inaugurated his anti-drug campaign, there was little resistance among Thais.
Indeed, support for the 'war' indicates that the Thai understanding of human
rights is at odds with that of the West. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
Samak Sundaravej government has portrayed its own 'war on drugs' as a follow-up
to that of Thaksin's. The ex-premier remains immensely popular among Thais in
the rural areas. By linking the latest 'war' to Thaksin's, the government hopes
to reaffirm its political legitimacy. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">Of
more concern, to make the 'war' appear justifiable, the government has released
statistics purporting to show a correlation between drug trafficking and the
on-going insurgency in southern Thailand. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">About
40 per cent of drug traffickers, it is claimed, come from suburban Bangkok and
the Muslim-majority southern provinces. Such statistics might further alienate
Muslims by locating them out of the realm of Thai morality.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">Muslim
insurgents could end up being depicted not only as troublesome irredentists but
also as drug traders who deserve to be dealt with by stiff measures, including
perhaps extra-judicial killings. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">The
renewal of the 'war on drugs' will likely elicit a chorus of disapproval from
the international community, particularly human rights groups. The question is
how Thailand can balance the eradication of drugs with the protection of human
rights. Recent statements indicate that the correct balance is unlikely to be
found. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">Premier
Samak has said: 'My government will decisively implement a policy against drug
trafficking. Government officials must implement this policy 24 hours a day, but
I will not set a target of how many people should die.'
<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">Interior
Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has said: 'When we implement a policy that may bring
3,000 to 4,000 bodies, we will do it.' <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">Drugs
have long been a destabilising force in Thai society. Many young people have
fallen prey to drugs and this situation undoubtedly threatens the well-being of
the nation. The widespread use of narcotics has also tarnished Thailand's
reputation. It is perceived by foreigners as a place where drugs are treated as
commodities of everyday life. The eradication of drugs has to be a national
priority. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">But
if this fresh anti-drug drive has been launched mainly for political reasons -
to cement the government's mandate or to divert public attention from bad
policies or to prosecute Muslims in the south - then the consequences could be
catastrophic. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">It
could generate a climate of fear, violence and insecurity as well as further
delay the country's economic recovery. <o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt">It
could then become a bone of contention between Thailand and human rights groups
worldwide, especially if it is waged as carelessly as was the previous one.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN><BR><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">The
writer is a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies.</SPAN></B><BR>
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