Making Northeastern Provinces Drug-Free Areas

(24/02/2012)

Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Ubamrung has stated that the Government would make 20 northeastern provinces drug-free areas. The statement was made during the mobile Cabinet meeting in the northeastern province of Udon Thani on 21 and 22 February 2012, when Cabinet members visited local residents to listen to their problems. Northeastern Thailand, commonly referred to as I-San, covers an area of around 170,000 square kilometers, or one-third of country’s entire area. It is made up of 20 provinces, out of the country’s 77 provinces. Police Captain Chalerm, who is also Director of the National Command Center for Drug Elimination, revealed that the target for a drug-free northeastern region will begin in Udon Thani. He emphasized the national drug control strategy “Force of the Land to Defeat the Drug Problem,” saying that the Government had discussed ways to tackle the drug problem along the border with neighboring countries and China. The discussions also touched on the issue of preventing the smuggling of illicit drugs. He pointed out that serious action would be taken against drug traffickers, while drug addicts would be provided with treatment and rehabilitation. He reaffirmed that in cracking down on drugs, the Government would adhere to the rule of law. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, during her visit to a drug rehabilitation camp in Ubon thani on 21 February 2012, urged young people undergoing rehabilitation at the camp not to return to drug use. She called on them to perform good deeds and keep themselves away from narcotic drugs for their better future and the happiness of their parents. The Prime Minister said that the Government was ready to provide financial support for all drug-related programs. The drug rehabilitation camp in Udon Thani has offered training for young drug addicts, so that they would turn a new leaf. It has mapped out an action plan for 2012 in line with the Force of the Land to Defeat the Drug Problem strategy. According to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Government has set a target of bringing 400,000 drug addicts, out of 1.2 million, to undergo rehabilitation in 2012. From October 2011 to January 2012, the authorities were able to seize 600 million baht in assets from drug cases. The present Thai government intends to bring the drug problem under control in the first year of its administration. It firmly stresses the policy of giving full cooperation on drug control to foreign countries and international organizations. In its area approach, all provinces, comprising districts, subdistricts, and villages, will be strengthened as a national platform to combat the drug menace. Local authorities and their networks will play a key role in identifying local drug issues and formulating plans to address the problem.