WarOnDrugs2:Emulating Phao again!

[GWR]

PM Samak says govt will act harshly against drug traffickers

BANGKOK, Feb 22 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday his government would employ severe measures against Thailand's drug traffickers, using tactics similar to those adopted by the former government of Thaksin Shinawatra, whose campaign led to outcries alleging substantial human rights abuses almost five years ago.

Speaking to a press conference at Government House, Mr. Samak, who also serves as Thailand's defense minister, said his government had decided to return to war – by following the 'war on drugs' policy originally implemented by the government of then prime minister Thaksin.

Many extrajudicial killings were alleged to have taken place in the 2003 drug suppression campaign during the Thaksin administration in which some 2,500 people were killed, with many victims believed by critics to have had no links to the illegal drug trade.

The so-called extrajudicial killings led a number of local and international human rights groups to accuse the government and the police with substantial human rights violations.

But Mr. Samak in his press conference downplayed the death figures, saying that only 59 persons out of over 2,500 of those killed were shot dead by police and that the implicated police were standing trial in relation to those cases, but the rest of the drug war victims were "murdered by their colleagues" to protect higher up drug traders from police investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said he would ask Mr. Samak to assign the state-run Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to play a key role in mapping out strategies and supply information concerning drug suppression.

The ONCB will coordinate with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to monitor drug trafficking networks and traffickers families and associates in order to know how money travels in the trafficking scheme, Mr. Sompong said.

The Revenue Department will have to employ tax measures in dealing with the money, he said.

Mr. Sompong said he would study the negative impacts of the Thaksin administration's 'war on drugs' as the current government might have to adjust the strategy "slightly".

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, lhead of the Democrat party, said the strong determination by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung in declaring the renewed war against drugs may "send the wrong signal" to drug suppression authorities.

Mr. Abhisit said he wanted Mr. Chalerm to state clearly that actions must be carried out within the letter and intent of the law. (TNA)-E111

Political News : Last Update : 17:43:34 22 February 2008 (GMT+7:00)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2936

22 Febuary 2008
Justice Minister disagrees with proposals to reintroduce war on drugs policy

The Minister of Justice disagrees with proposals for a continuance of the war on drugs policy due to the human rights implications.

Minister of Justice Sompong Amornwiwat (สมพงษ์ อมรวิวัฒน์) expressed his disagreement with Minister of Interior Pol Cpt Chalerm Yoobumrung's (ร้อยตำรวจเอกเฉลิม อยู่บำรุง) proposal for the reintroduction of the war on drugs policy. Mr. Sompong said that the measure was violent and violated human rights. He reports that the issue will be discussed with the National Narcotics Suppression Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Sompong admitted that authorities have to alternate between caution and aggression depending on the situation. He said that officials will put their priority in ensuring that innocent people are not harmed.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter05
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255102220014

[GWR]

PM backs Chalerm's new 'war on drugs'
Published on February 23, 2008

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday defended the government's policy to get tough with drug dealers, while Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said it would "be natural" if more than 2,700 people were killed during the crackdown.

"Should we do nothing because we are afraid that someone is going to criticise us for silence killings that may occur?" Samak said, when asked about the revival of the government's "war on drugs" and the possibility of many more killings.

The war on drugs launched by the Thaksin Shinawatra-led government saw more than 2,800 allegedly drug-related deaths. Police claimed that those murdered were drug traffickers targeted by fellow traffickers to prevent them from speaking up.

However, several reports later showed that many victims were not linked to the drug trade at all.

"Why are you worried about the fate of drug traffickers?" Samak said, insisting his government was going to launch a serious crackdown.

Chalerm, the first government figure to push for the revival of the tough policy on drugs, reiterated his stand yesterday.

"It's a good policy," he said.

Speaking to Interior Ministry executives, provincial governors and district chiefs, Chalerm said it would be natural if more than 2,700 people were killed during the upcoming crackdown.

"I am not saying you should summon drug suspects and shoot them down," he said, "I am just telling you to closely monitor drug suspects and cooperate closely with police".

Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said he would not interfere with Chalerm's plan to seriously crack down on drug traffickers. However, he said he would oppose any excessive use of force.

In a related development, Sompong said he was going to propose to Samak that the authorities should be able to investigate the assets of drug suspects' extended families.

"Seven generations would be appropriate," he said, "Such an investigation would allow us to see money circulating in the illicit drug trade."

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02/23/headlines/headlines_30066235.php

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra (an ex-policeman):

"The drug sellers have been ruthless with the Thai people, with our children, so if we are ruthless with them, it is not a big deal. … If drug traders are listening they must make up their minds whether to stop selling or carry on. If they don't stop, there is a chance they will be dealt with in every way, both life and limb. … With the traders, you must use hammer and fist, that is, act decisively and without mercy. Police General Phao Sriyanon once said 'There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do.' So I'm confident that drugs are something that the Thai police can deal with. (Phao was famous for ordering political assassinations.) If some drug traders die, it will be a common thing."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/13/opinion/opinion_30018782.php

One doesn't really have to go much further than General Phao himself (still revered with a statue at Royal Thai Police HQ) to see the problem with such comments. As to whether such attitudes are based on huge ignorance or collosal arrogance or some combination of both, ........ ::cool:

Phao Sriyanond (Thai: เผ่า ศรียานนท์, March 1, 1910 - November 21, 1960) was a director general of Thailand's national police.

Police terror

Phao was promoted to the position of director of the police in 1951, by which time he had become one of the country's all-powerful triumvirate. A client of the CIA, Phao received funds and hardware to build up his personal fortune, as well as to turn the police force into an alternative army to oppose his military rival, Sarit Thanarat.

Phao established an intimate circle of police officers, known generally as the "Knights of the Diamond Ring". The group was notorious for its handling of the government and the police general's political opponents - often through outright assassinations and murders.

In March 1949, three MPs from Isaan and an associate, all one-time disciples of the exiled Pridi, were arrested on charges of treason. They were shot dead by their police escort while supposedly being transferred from one jail to another.

On December 12, 1952, Tiang Sirikhanth - the MP for Sakon Nakhon, a leading Seri Thai member and opponent of the government - was arrested along with four of his associates. They were put to death (allegedly by strangulation in the police station) and their bodies burned in a forest in Kanchanaburi Province.

A successful newspaper publisher, Ari Liwara, refused to sell his business to Phao and was subsequently killed in March 1953.

The MP for Samut Sakhon, Phon Malithong, who provided much evidences for allegations of corruption aimed at Phao in Parliament, was in 1954 found tied to concrete posts in the Chao Phraya River, having first been strangled.

Phao was enormously wealthy. He collected protection money from businessmen, rigged the gold exchange, and blackmailed corporations into giving him huge shareholdings. He also profited greatly from the opium trade.

Police units transferred opium from the poppy fields of the Golden Triangle to the harbours of Bangkok, ready to be exported. Trucks, planes, and boats which had been supplied to the police by the CIA were used ease logistics for the movement of opium, which the police took great pains to guard.

Downfall and exile

Phao swiftly lost power with the fall of Phibun in 1957, and was forced to go into exile in Switzerland. He died there at the age of 50.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phao_Sriyanond

In a related development, Sompong said he was going to propose to Samak that the authorities should be able to investigate the assets of drug suspects' extended families.

"Seven generations would be appropriate," he said, "Such an investigation would allow us to see money circulating in the illicit drug trade."

The Nation

Just imagine investigating 7 generations of the kind of folks who when they have money from small bit drug-dealing blow it all in about five minutes flat and are soon back living on a few baht a day. Hardly satisfying to know that anyone slightly above that level is essentially untouchable. It would be so much more satisfying to rummage in the drawers of 7 generations of the General.:D As it is, we will have to be content with an open season on low-rent punks. A Glorious War?

Not even to mention the fact that the current Interior Minister & his sons (ex-policeman, although the prefix ex- is largely irrelevant in Thailand) have demonstrated many times that they have no respect for the law of the land. His announcement of a 'Second War on Drugs' demonstrates very clearly that he has no intention of abiding by such laws in the future either.

[GWR]

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Police raid Patong bars in Chalerm’s crackdown

PATONG: Last night’s police crackdown on Soi Bangla entertainment venues trading past 2 am was in response to an order by new Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung, Kathu Police chief Col Grissak Songmoonnak has confirmed.

Col Grissak, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette today that he ordered the crackdown after Interior Minister Pol Capt Chalerm told police nationwide to get tough on nightclub operators as part of his new anti-drug campaign – or face the consequences.

Capt Chalerm’s order was also a topic at the monthly meeting of provincial government office heads chaired by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning.

The meeting was held in a new building, recently completed after two years of construction, that will be used for all future provincial government meetings.

At the meeting, Gov Niran explained that he had just returned from Bangkok, where he was told about the new anti-drug policies laid down by Interior Minister Chalerm.

Capt Chalerm threatened to punish police officers, district chiefs and other officials who failed to strictly enforce anti-drug measures at entertainment venues, Gov Niran said.

The strict enforcement is to ensure that all entertainment venues in areas such as Patong operate as required under their licenses and deny entry to anyone under 18 years of age, he said.

Venues operating without a license will be closed immediately and any licensed venues found breaking anti-drugs laws and admitting minors also face permanent closure under the tough, new Interior Ministry policy, Gov Niran said.

Pheeraboon Thongsiriset, Chief of the Governor’s Office Development Planning Division, reported a rise in the use of ya bah (methamphatamines), marijuana, inhalants and krathom (an indigenous Thai plant that acts as a mild stimulant) in Phuket.

About 80% of the narcotics used in Phuket are either smuggled into Thailand through Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat and brought to the island from Phang Nga by car or boat, he added.

There will be a heavy police presence on the island tomorrow. After greeting Thaksin Shinawatra at Suvarnabhumi International Airport tomorrow morning, national police commissioner Gen Seripisut Temiyavej will fly to Phuket to attend two ceremonies, both in Mai Khao.

About 2 pm, Gen Seripisut will attend the handover of the police checkpoint at Tah Chat Chai.

The old police checkpoint will cease to operate and from tomorrow motorists coming onto the island will be directed to the new checkpoint beside the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization building.

At 3:37 pm Gen Seripisut will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new Police Region 8 headquarters, to replace the current headquarters in Surat Thani.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6300

[Wisarut]

Thsi has confirmed that His Majesty has made a 30-minute conversation with Samak before the Pledging Ceremony ... the discussion whcih may as Samk to be "independent" from bing a puppet of Ai Maew
http://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9510000021354