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
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