Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jun 2000
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2000
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Authors: Yuwadee Tunyasiri and Aphaluck Bhatiasevi

US URGED TO INCLUDE SPEED ON TARGET LIST

Clinton Aide Stresses Role Of Rehabilitation

The United States should include methamphetamines in its international 
drug-suppression effort, a special adviser to President Clinton was told in 
Bangkok yesterday.

Jurin Laksanavisit, PM's Office minister supervising the Narcotics Control 
Board, told Barry McCaffrey, director of the US Office of National Drug 
Control Policy, that the stimulant was wreaking havoc on Thai youth.

Thailand wanted Washington to maintain its role in suppressing drug 
trafficking in the region, Mr Jurin told Gen McCaffrey at Government House.

Gen McCaffrey, who was also urged to support the funding of preventive 
measures to reduce drug abuse, was responsive to the issues raised, said Mr 
Jurin.

The US official said smuggling in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea is a 
major area of interest for Thai and US narcotics agencies. The priorities 
were to nail the kingpins along with traffickers and underpin the 
capability of Thai institutions. Gen McCaffrey also met Prime Minister 
Chuan Leekpai as part of his eight-day swing, which has taken him to China, 
Hong Kong and Vietnam.

"We have learnt more about challenges facing this strategically-located 
nation," he said. Thailand remained a significant trans-shipment point for 
drugs, "the presence of which continues to feed the nation's domestic drug 
addiction problem". Pointing out that methamphetamines were an emerging 
threat to the world, he said the United Wa State Army was the chief source 
of the drugs in Thailand. "Virtually all of the synthetic drugs trafficked 
in Thailand are produced by the Wa in Burma and enter the kingdom at 
various points along the Thai-Burmese border," said the US official. He 
called on Thailand, as a signatory to a 1993 regional counter-narcotics 
agreement, to encourage Burma to participate in bilateral efforts to combat 
Wa drug production. Though methamphetamines were less harmful than heroin, 
he said, governments must fight that perception because it had low 
production costs but high profit margins.

To combat drug problems, there was a need for effective rehabilitation 
programmes.

"If there's no effective drug treatment, law enforcement can never achieve 
the purpose," he said.
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