Pubdate: Fri, 07 Nov 2008
Source: Nation, The (Thailand)
Copyright: 2008 Nation Multimedia Group
Contact:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963
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THREE-MONTH WAR ON DRUGS LAUNCHED

The government yesterday launched its drug suppression  campaign at a 
ceremony presided over by Prime Minister  Somchai Wongsawat.

The war on drugs is scheduled for November to January.

In his speech, Somchai encouraged authorities to devote  their full 
attention to fighting drug trafficking  although he cautioned them 
that his government will not  condone silence killings, which had 
cast a shadow over  the 2003 campaign against illicit drugs.

Thaksin launched his war on drugs in 2003. Human rights  groups have 
said that at least 2,500 people were killed  in extrajudicial 
killings during the campaign.

Somchai, however, said Thaksin was not responsible for  the deaths.

"In fact, those people had committed wrongdoings. They  were not 
extrajudicial killings by police. They were  killed by drug dealers," 
he said, repeating the  government line at the time.

The fight against traffickers will strictly follow  prescribed legal 
procedure, he assured.

He also called for stepping up the awareness campaign  so that young 
people realise the harmful effects of  drug abuse.
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