Pubdate: Sun, 29 Feb 2004
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Copyright: 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
Contact:  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/429
Author: Associated Press, Reuters

THAKSIN TO LEAD NEW WAR ON DRUGS

BANGKOK

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stung by recent US criticism
of his bloody domestic war on drugs last year, yesterday announced a
fresh crackdown on drug dealers starting next month.

In his weekly radio address, Mr Thaksin gave few details about the
renewed campaign but said it would get under way with the start of
school holidays next month, as the drug problem was 'coming back'.

The new effort will focus on Bangkok and other major cities, where
critics say last year's campaign failed to make a significant dent in
drug demand, particularly among the young.

Last December, Mr Thaksin declared victory after a 10-month anti-drug
war, but the deaths of more than 2,000 suspected drug traffickers and
peddlers sparked an outcry from rights activists who accused the
police of acting outside the law.

In its annual human rights report issued on Thursday, the US State
Department said Thailand's record 'worsened with regard to
extra-judicial killings' and arbitrary arrests.

Mr Thaksin did not comment on the report in his radio address
yesterday, but on Friday, he had responded by calling the US a
'useless friend'.

'It's unacceptable to me the way the US came out with the report by
citing media reports. What kind of friend are they?' he was quoted as
saying by The Nation newspaper yesterday.

Mr Thaksin's government has been one of Washington's staunchest allies
in South-east Asia, backing the war on terror in the region and
sending non-combat troops to help rebuild Iraq.

He is stepping up his anti-drug efforts because drug use among Thai
youths has soared in recent years.

Millions of people have become addicted to stimulant methamphetamine
pills produced mainly in jungle laboratories along the border with
neighbouring Myanmar.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin