Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2006
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1578/a09.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1569/a04.html
Author: Chavalit Van

WAR ON DRUGS SHOWED POOR LEADERSHIP

Thaksin Shinawatra's declaration of his war on drugs in  2003 would
not have resulted in 2,500 cases of mostly  unsolved deaths had he
used more common sense and a  meticulously thought-out plan.

As a result, a large number of those killed during the  first few
months of the campaign have been claimed to  be innocent and
hard-working Thais, including elderly  people, pregnant women and even
small children.

During his leadership, Mr Thaksin has been accused of  using his
emotions before using his reasoning power on  several important
issues. It was also rumoured that Mr  Thaksin had a personal motive in
this particular matter  in dispute: one of his close relatives got
hooked on  amphetamines and thus he was furious at the prevalence  of
the drug in the country, hence the campaign that  resulted in
thousands of unseemly deaths.

The 2003 war on drugs was just one example of Mr  Thaksin's lack of
leadership quality and  characteristics.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake