Rampant drug abuses in Deep South despite heavy presence of troops
Drug suppression drive has recently been launched in the three southernmost provinces with the possibility that martial law may be invoked against major drug dealers as part of the government’s national policy to rid the country of illicit drugs.
Besides Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat in the South, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son in the North and Bangkok have been marked as priority targets in the suppression campaign because they have been identified as areas with serious drug abuses problem or they are key drug trafficking routes, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban at a meeting of the board of the Office of Narcotics Control Board on Thursday December 16.
Mr Suthep also warned officials who are involved in the illicit drug trade that they would face strong legal action.
Lt-Gen Udomchai Thammasarorath, commander of the Fourth Army Region said that martial law might be invoked to deal with major drug dealers if it was discovered that ordinary laws could not be used against them.
He disclosed that investigation into the operations of illicit drug and oil smuggling gangs showed that parts of the money they earned from the illegal businesses were secretly channeled to militant groups to fund their terrorist activities while other parts were laundered in the form of donations to some organizations.
The Fourth Army Region, in cooperation with Mr Aziz Pitakkumpol, the Chula Ratchamlontri or the Muslim spiritual leader, has mobilized the support of more than 1,000 masjids in the Deep South in the launch of a campaign to prevent drug abuses in communities.
The campaign is in conjunction with the Yalannanbaru and occupational training programmes which were designed to lure “high risk” youth groups away from drug abuses and to provide them with occupational training, said the general.
Spokesman of the fourth army commander, Col Parinya Chaidilok, meanwhile, admitted that illicit drug problem and the insurgency problem in the Deep South were inseparable that both of them had to be tackled simultaneously. If the drug problem could be resolved, the insurgency problem would be eased accordingly, said the colonel.
To tackle the illicit drug problem, Col Parinya disclosed that the use of force would not be emphasized as this could lead to more problems. Instead, the approach to the problem would be non-violent with the involvement of more than 1,000 masjids which would be the vehicle used to address the problem, he said.
While methamphetamine or Ya Ba as it was locally known has been identified as the No 1 drug problem in most parts of the country, Krathom leaves are most popular in the Deep South.
Narathiwat MP Areepen Uttarasin said that the Krathom leaves could be found in every village and the consumption of water boiled with Krathom leaves was very popular among youths in the region. He, however, complained that the government had done nothing to address the problem besides putting up some PR billboards along the highways.
“Some drug dealers have made a lot of money from the illicit drug trade. The villagers know who they are and the authorities should know too but no actions have been taken. Some used the money to buy 300-400 rai of rubber plantation despite the fact that they had no known occupations whatsoever,” said the lawmaker.
Mr Ahmad Somboon Bualuang, an academic and a peace advocate, suggested that authorities had a hand in the lucrative drug trade. He made an observation that the drug trade appeared to be flourishing in areas most protected by authorities.
“It is the same with contraband goods. Anywhere you go today from Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat to Sabayoi district of Songkhla, you will find contraband goods on display on street pavements that you can hardly find any legal goods. And this is despite the fact that there are many policemen and troops in the region,” said Mr Ahmad.
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Caption : "Krathom leaves" the most popular illicit drug in the Deep South