Govt drug policy raises concerns among activists

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Govt drug policy raises concerns among activists
The Nation 2011-09-28

Some 50 representatives of 12 civic organisations against narcotics Tuesday raised their concern over the government.

Working together under the “12D” network, they said the policy might lead to silent killings or violation of drug addicts’ and families’ rights – just like the Thaksin Shinawatra administration’s “war on drugs” policy.

Rehabilitation for general addicts organised in army camps and prisons might also have negative impacts on the addicts, they said.

The activists’ requests included clear measures and guidelines for law-enforcers to prevent rights violations, the cancellation of Army- and police-organised rehabilitation, and the implementation of the Drug Addict Rehabilitation Act 2002, which treated addicts as patients rather than criminals.

Late yesterday, Chalerm met with deputy national police chief General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya to discuss the drug-suppression policy and give him the names of six Thai nationals reportedly involved in drug trafficking.

Chalerm said the authority had information on about 200-300 people reportedly involved in drug trafficking and smuggling in border areas but there were no politicians involved. He said his discussions with Panupong confirmed they had matching and credible information and he instructed Panupong to act on it, making arrests and seizing assets.

Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court Tjuesrday gave two highway policemen 33 years and four months each in jail and Bt2 million in fines for having in their possession 3,000 yaba tablets for sale. Another highway cop was given the benefit of the doubt and acquitted, but remains in detention during appeal.

Pol Senior Sgt-Major Pornchai Noilatthee, Pol Senior Sgt-Major Wisanu Theungsook, and Pol Senior Sgt-Major Thanu Phuthong were arrested while manning a checkpoint in Krabi’s Phraya district on June 24 last year in a police sting operation.

The first two officers had allegedly nabbed three drug suspects along with 3,000 yaba tablets, but released them in exchange for Bt100,000 in cash. The two officers told the suspects to pay another Bt300,000 for the drugs. However, Nakhon Si Thammarat police later arrested the three suspects with the drugs, leading to the sting operation.

Pornchai claimed he and Wisanu received Bt40,000 each and paid Thanu Bt10,000 while giving Bt10,000 to the others. Finding the two officers guilty, the court handed them a life sentence and Bt3 million fine each, reduced to a 33-year-four-month jail term and Bt2-million fine because of their useful confessions.

In Phichit’s Wang Sai Phun district, police Tuesday searched a house and arrested a drug suspect aged 19 along with 37.59 grams of crystal meth, 399 yaba tablets, 3.02 grams of marijuana, two guns, and six records of drug customers.

It was reported that drug dealers used the opportunity of the flood crisis – in which most police were occupied helping flood victims – to distribute drugs.