Thailand declares victory over drugs

The Washington Tiems ^ | December 1 2003 | UPI

[AM2000]

BANGKOK, Thailand, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Thailand officials said Monday illegal drug traffic has been nearly eradicated, but the fight will continue until Thailand is completely drug free.

The Bangkok Post reported Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his nation's victory over illegal drug use was made possible by the people's contribution of physical and spiritual forces to protect their society.

[Sir Gawain]

Yeah, I heard about the on-the-spot executions of suspected drug dealers by the government. It's just too bad we have a Constitution that gets in the way over here.

[angkor]

I vaguely recall that there were 3,000+ more-or-less summary executions during the recent crackdown.

[KDD]

It [the State] has taken on a vast mass of new duties and responsibilities; it has spread out its powers until they penetrate to every act of the citizen, however secret; it has begun to throw around its operations the high dignity and impeccability of a State religion; its agents become a separate and superior caste, with authority to bind and loose, and their thumbs in every pot. But it still remains, as it was in the beginning, the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men. -- Henry L. Mencken, 1926.

What an idea!

Declare victory and everyone go home.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Must've driven up the price of Thai-stick a tad...

[Dr. Marten]

That is only in certain situations depending on the type of drug and the quantity.

[Looking4Truth]

Sure, and I guess they've eradicated AIDS and child prostitution as well, too..

[international american]

Looks like Thailand has finally gone the way of Malaysia
Good for them!

[international american]

ROTF

[Raymond Hendrix]

I think they are a little optimistic but I hope that the drug problem does not overtake Thailand to the extent that it has in the United States. There must be a balance somewhere between drug dealers taking over entire communities (as I have witnessed here) and an oppressive government killing people at will. For the most part however I comment Thailand for the effort. People complain, and rightly so, about government thugs but on the other hand we cannot allow the scum who destory the minds of our kids to take over a society either. I am leaving for Thailand Tuesday. It is still a great place to live and visit.

[Jonathon Spectre]

It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom. Keep that in mind at all times.

[xrp]

Some country won!

[angkor]

Most of the Thai anti-drug iniative last spring was directed against "yaba," or methamphetamine (from Burma).

You can track the history pretty easily in The Nation or Bangkok Post, but here's a little snippet from July:

Police chief blames deaths on vigilantes

The Nation, July 26, 2003

[Lt-General Pichai Sunthornsajjabul] was quoted in a front-page story of The Nation yesterday saying an anti-drug "alliance" comprising police, soldiers, government officials, civilians and members of private organisations had been working as an intelligence-gathering arm of the regional police.

Once the alliance's tips were verified, police would consider whether there was enough evidence to prosecute. "If there's not enough evidence to take legal action, drastic measures will be taken by members of the alliance," he was quoted as saying. "We have applied legal means, political science and even Buddhism, but the [drug] problem only seems to be getting worse. Now it's time to rely on [the] Death Angel. Of course, it's a legally delicate means, but it's the path we have to take to bring peace back to society." But yesterday he said it was not true that the alliance had killed several hundred people and expected to send 1,000 "to hell" this year. But he again suggested some villagers took the law into their own hands.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[dread78645]

"I vaguely recall that there were 3,000+ more-or-less summary executions during the recent crackdown."

"... you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs."

-- Walter Duranty

[Conservative til I die]

Legalizing drugs is the answer.

[jayef]

Leaving people the hell alone is the answer.