Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2001 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 Author: John Arnone PLANNED DRUG LAW IS TOO OPEN TO ABUSE I'm a little nervous about this new law labelling suspects with 15 or more amphetamine pills on their person as drug dealers. I am all for destroying the drug trade. However, I shudder to think of how many poor souls will have a packet of pills placed in their car by police officers looking for either a pay-off or revenge. I know people that it has happened to who made a pay-off to avoid being tagged with a driving under the influence arrest. Just imagine what the police can demand from some unwitting individual who suddenly finds that he could be facing a drug dealer prosecution. It seems that there are a lot of scary new laws coming out of Bangkok these days. All have one thing in common: They are designed to punish the people at the bottom of the ladder rather than the top. Let's hope Thailand survives them. John Arnone Yasothon - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart