Once they survived by cultivating opium. Now most of the hill tribes who did so are supporting their families by growing other crops through the Nong Hoi Royal Project.

It is quite an achievement that 25 percent of Doi Kham crops are produced by the project in Chiang Mai's Mae Rim district. The former hill tribe poppy farmers are now employed by the Royal Project, and have turned it into a new agro-tourism and eco-tourism site.

Situated in Nong Hoi Kao village in tambon Mae Raem, it takes about 45 minutes via the Chiang Mai-Fang Highway (Highway107). After 17 km, turn left onto the Mae Rim-Samoeng (Highway1096) and continue for 15 km. Then take the paved road on the right (between km 14-15) and continue for 7 km.

[continues 508 words]

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has called on all anti-drug networks to meet to devise new suppression strategies. Pittaya Jinawat, director of the ONCB, made the call in preparation for the "Second War on Drugs" on November 3 at the Tarin Hotel in Chiang Mai.

He addressed 100 participants from the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5, Office of Primary School Education, student representatives from both government and private universities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with youths in slum communities and hill tribes.

[continues 133 words]

In Bangkok, Be Ready to Give a Urine Sample

BANGKOK, Thailand - Police burst into the dark nightclub after midnight, weave through the crowd and lock the doors, trapping nearly 400 bewildered customers inside. The lights flicker on, and a voice over loudspeakers orders everyone to submit to urine tests for drugs.

It's part of a three-year-old "social order" campaign to curb drug abuse that has cast a damper over Saturday night partying in Bangkok.

It started in 2001 with the then interior minister, Purachai Piemsomboon, leading television crews into the neon-lit venues on high-profile busts. He has since gone on to higher office, but his "Mr. Clean" title has passed to Pracha Maleenont, a former entertainment business and TV station owner, who hasn't missed a beat in seeking to tame Bangkok's famously freewheeling night life.

[continues 437 words]

A Thai court sentenced a British man to death and another to 33 1/2 years in prison on Monday after they were found in possession of drugs including heroin, methamphetamines and ecstasy.

Anthony Flannaghan, 33, was found guilty of illegal drug possession with intent to sell and sentenced to death, said Judge Thawat Choonkluabthong and court documents.

Flannaghan denied the charges and told reporters outside the court room that he planned to appeal the sentence.

A second defendant, Stephen Wilcox, 39, was sentenced to 33 1/2 years in prison and fined 800,000 baht (US$19,500; euro 15,300) for drug possession, Thawat said.

Wilcox was initially sentenced to life imprisonment and fined 1,200,000 baht (US$29,300; euro 22,900), but had his sentenced reduced after he pleaded guilty.

The convicts, whose hometowns were not immediately known, were shackled at the ankles and handcuffed together.

[end]

ONCB waiting for clear signals from Burma

The local director of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is apprehensive that the new Burmese leader will not fully support Thailand's drug suppression in the region, following the ouster of Gen. Khin Nyunt as prime minister, replaced by Lt.-Gen. Soe Win.

Pittaya Jinawat, director of the ONCB in the North, said that it had noted the political change in the Burmese political leadership. It predicted a renewed spread of drugs by some minority groups that the Office had placed under observation, according to Pittaya.

[continues 128 words]

Extra-Judicial Killing in Chai Prakan District, Chiang Mai

Pha Muang Task Force seized over 400,000 ya ba pills from two agents in Chiang Dao and Chai Prakan districts and confiscated the dealers' properties valued at 20 million baht.

A joint press conference was held on October 16 at the Pha Muang Task Force by Pol Lt Gen Watcharapol Prasarnratchakij, commander of Narcotic Suppression Bureau, Maj Gen Manus Paorik, the commander of Pha Muang Task Force, and Pittaya Jinawat, director of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Northern Office.

[continues 348 words]

More heroin is expected to be smuggled into Thailand, with the traffickers changing their transit routes to bring it in via Laos instead of Myanmar.

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Northern Office said international relations between Thailand and its neighbors Myanmar and Laos have improved, and Thailand is ready to adjust its strategic plan in the second "War on Drugs" in this region.

The prospects of future cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar are said to be bright. The Burmese authorities have cooperated well in reducing drug production among the minority groups, as well as helping to repatriate drug suspects fleeing Thailand to hide in Myanmar.

[continues 286 words]

The new assistant commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army has visited Pha Muang Task Force in Chiang Mai to stress that the suppression of drug smuggling is a hot issue.

Gen Lertrat Ratanawanitch, assistant to Commander-in-Chief Gen Pravit Wongsuwan, visited the task force on October 8 to familiarize himself with the drug situation in its area of responsibility.

He came to the North to attend the task force's briefing on drug prevention measures and drug suppression, including the Thai-Burma cooperation plan to help develop the villages along the Thai-Burmese border.

[continues 157 words]

Germany has signaled its willingness to help Thailand eradicate the production of opium in the Golden Triangle.

Germany's Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Health and Social Security toured the Drug Rehabilitation Center in Chiang Mai and said she was willing to cooperate with Thailand to help eradicate the drug scourge.

As part of an official visit to observe Thailand's drug suppression and AIDS operation and prevention, Marion Caspers-Merk visited the rehabilitation center of the Public Health Ministry in Mae Rim district on October 7.

[continues 187 words]

X-Rays to Be Used

The new Chiang Rai provincial governor has ordered X-ray machines to be installed to be used for drug searches, and wants community leaders, kamnan and village headmen to play a greater part.

Governor Veerakiart Somsoy said after he had outlined government policy to the community leaders in Mae Chan and Mae Sai districts, that Chiang Rai had stepped up measures throughout the province to track down drug addicts and dealers.

Strict measures will be enforced to suppress drug ringleaders and their networks of traffickers by working in cooperation with volunteers in the communities, including kamnan and village headmen. X-ray surveillance has been installed in the villages.

Veerakiart added that using the X-Ray measure in the province is implementation of government policy. The approach involving the community is expected to lead to greater efficiency and success.

The Tambon Administration Organization has also allocated money for the prevention and suppression of drugs at grassroots level.

[end]

A "quality-of-life" training camp raising anti-drug awareness among Thai youth wrapped up recently under the leadership of Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang, who chairs the Dharma Centre in Ayutthaya province.

More than 1,200 young people from across the country attended his three-day anti-drug camp, which emphasised youth volunteers helping to get people free of addictive substances including drugs and alcohol.

Chamlong said the programme was developed with the cooperation of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to promote awareness about the dangers faced in each community across the country.

[continues 61 words]

Beware of thy neighbor seems to be the concept

The Drug Combating Center in Lampang Muang District, assisted by the "people's power" is ready for the second wave in the "War on Drugs" campaign.

The Center and provincial authorities hosted an event to create more networking to keep a close watch on the drug situation. This is the response to the government's campaign to prevent the drug problem returning to the area.

Ruangrit Chormsuek, district chief officer of Lampang Muang District, presided over the launching ceremony at the district office, together with over 500 people including the region's Buddhist leaders, private sector, chiefs of the local government offices, including kamnans, village headmen, and the "People Power Club" in the villages.

[continues 116 words]

'Brutal Measures' Vow Raises Rights Concerns

The second war on drugs will focus on Klong Toey slum communities, which must be made free of drugs, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Mr Thaksin opened the second six-month phase of Palang Phandin Ruam Kwadlang Yaseptid (the war on addictive drugs) yesterday at the Police Society in Bang Khen.

He instructed the police to be serious in combating the drug trade, especially the transportation of cocaine by motorcycles. The new metropolitan police commissioner and anti-drug chief should launch at least one more crackdown on drugs in the Klong Toey area where there were always drugs and anti-drug volunteers must remain on guard.

[continues 481 words]

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday declared a new round of a full-scale war on drugs, promising "brutal measures" against drug dealers and traffickers.

"Drug dealers and traffickers are heartless and wicked. All of them must be sent to meet the guardian of hell, so that there will not be any drugs in the country," Mr Thaksin said.

A lot of youngsters had fallen victim to drug dealers over the years and methamphetamines would likely make a comeback.

"These things are like cancer and we have to continue to keep a close watch on them," he said. The new, one-year campaign would involve decisive action against drug dealers and traffickers.

[continues 191 words]

As many as 2,500 people were killed in the first campaign of the government's war on drugs, and the country could well see more bloodshed now that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declared a second offensive. The government's determination to rid Thai society of the evil of drugs deserves the support of us all. But the high fatality rate in the first six-month war on drugs last year has seriously marred what should be one of this government's major achievements in office.

[continues 609 words]

A coalition of 51 human rights and health organisations has called on the Municipal Council of L'Aquila and Instituzi Perdonanza Colestniana to withdraw the 2004 International Forgiveness Award given to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Thaksin was named as the recipient of the award for "his government's treatment of drug abusers as patients rather than criminals".

The award was presented to the prime minister during his trip to Italy last month.

The group, which comprises Thai and international organisations, said systematic and brutal human rights violations took place during the government's war on drugs under Mr Thaksin's leadership.

[continues 72 words]

West Says Asia One Of Prime Exporters

Wildlife and drugs smuggling go hand-in-hand with Asia being one of the prime exporters, said European and American justice officials yesterday.

However, a Thai wildlife expert said Thailand had in the past found cases of illicit drugs concealed among live animals sent to the United States, but that was ancient history.

"We continue to find various cases of both endangered animals and drugs being smuggled in the same container, or sometimes legal animals are used as live vessels to make it easier to pass through customs," said John Webb, a prosecutor from the US Justice Department. "Drug and wildlife trafficking may be the two greatest money-makers, aside from gun running, why not put them together."

[continues 207 words]

The Third Army Region has evaluated the cooperation in Thai-Burmese border village development, as part of the drive to stop the trafficking in drugs.

The Third Army Region's deputy commander, Maj Gen Pravit Klinthong and Pittaya Jinawat, the director of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Northern Office chaired the evaluation that was held at Nakhonping Palace Hotel, Chiang Mai on September 23. 150 commanders and officials of the Third Army Region attended.

Deputy Commander Maj Gen Pravit said Thailand had developed villages in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces.

[continues 245 words]

For Anti-Narcotics, Law Enforcement, Regional Activities

U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center - U.S. Ambassador Darryl N. Johnson and Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation Director General Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda has signed an agreement through which the U.S. will provide more than USD 4.5 million of assistance to nine narcotics and legal projects in Thailand.

The projects cover the areas of criminal justice, law enforcement, trafficking in persons, intellectual property rights, drug crop control, demand reduction and regional cooperation.

[continues 519 words]

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday threatened to transfer officials who fail to prevent a resurgence of drug use and trafficking, a day after he announced another round in his war on drugs.

"I am serious about taking action against drug traffickers. Government officials, police in particular, must take action too as these traffickers destroy youths' lives, ruin the economy and damage the country," he said.

The premier cited Bangkok's Klong Toei district as needing extra attention from the Metropolitan Police Bureau as well as the Narcotics Control Board (NCB).

[continues 260 words]