AUSTRALIA has told Asian countries that tough tactics in their war on drugs have accelerated the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region. The warning came during a two-day seminar of senior police officers from 12 Asian nations at the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin. Asian countries should pursue alternative harm-reduction programs, such as needle and syringe exchanges, as well as voluntary rehabilitation, Australian officials said today. Many officers at the conference came from nations that punish drug offenders and traffickers with long prison terms or the death penalty. [continues 189 words]
An Australian arrested in a Thai police raid in the beachside resort of Pattaya was hosting a sex and drugs party at his luxurious seaside villa, police said today. Michael Suttie, 45, a long time resident of Thailand, was arrested Sunday along with nine other foreigners and 12 Thai women at his Pattaya residence, 150km south east of Bangkok, court sources said. Suttie, described as a wealthy Australian with a property company in Pattaya, was held overnight at the local police lock up, together with the others arrested. [continues 216 words]
Bangkok - The international policy of isolating Burma should be reversed to allow more humanitarian funds to areas undergoing opium crop reduction programs, UN officials say. European states, as well as human rights groups, have led the call for severe limits on aid to the military government in Rangoon until improvements are made in its human rights record. But UN officials are arguing against the isolationist policy, saying funds are needed to assist ongoing efforts to reduce the output of opium from Burma's northern regions. [continues 343 words]
Thailand is to carry out mandatory drug testing of school and university students as part of the Government's "war on drugs" strategy. The planned urine testing, requiring parental consent, is being proposed by Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun. A recent survey by Bangkok's Assumption University estimated 6.2 per cent, or 374,600 students, aged 11 to 24 were involved with drugs "to some extent", mainly amphetamines and marijuana. Around 700 million amphetamine tablets enter the country a year from factories in neighbouring Burma and Laos. [continues 90 words]