BKK Post / 4 September 1998 NARCOTICS Local focus in effort to fight drugs Strategy to stem the flow of precursors Drug-free communities, prevention measures aimed at the young and action to stem the flow of precursors are the main aims of a narcotics policy announced yesterday. Under the policy, set out in Prime Minister's Order 141/2541, the Interior Ministry will provide treatment and rehabilitation facilities and coordinate parties in the anti-drugs effort. Chuan Leekpai told representatives of public/private sector bodies promoting popular participation in the war on drugs the strategy demonstrated the government's commitment to social issues. The downturn was luring more people, officials included, into trafficking while the breakdown of the family was driving young people and adults to seek comfort in drugs. Urging all communities and state and private agencies to unite in the effort, he pledged the government would work more closely with neighbouring states to eliminate production sources. The national police chief, who was also at the meeting, said Burma and Laos tolerate large numbers of illicit amphetamine plants on their soil. "Everybody knows Burma and Laos are major producers of amphetamines," Pol Gen Pracha Promnok said after the session. "Burma and Laos have no problems because they are receiving money," he said, "and their laws are allowing them to do so." Pol Gen Pracha knew of eight drug plants three to five kilometres from Thailand's borders with Burma and Laos, which he estimated would produce some 200 million tablets destined for Thailand this year. He said Thailand would rely on bilateral meetings with officials from both countries to pressure them to close the plants. Thailand was already cooperating with Chinese authorities in cracking down on plants producing amphetamine precursors in its territory. The government has set up national drug operation centres, staffed by military, police, Interior Ministry and customs officials, in Bangkok and all 76 provinces. The Nation / 4 September 1998 Headlines Drug users getting lot younger ALARMED by the rising number of young drug addicts, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday convened a national meeting to unveil a new strategy. After the meeting, national police chief Pracha Promnok accused neighbouring Burma and Laos of allowing illicit amphetamine factories to operate on their soil. "Everybody knows that our neighbours, Burma and Laos, are the major producers of amphetamines," he said. "Burma and Laos have no problems because they are making money and their laws allow them to do so." He said he knew of eight drug plants, located between three to five kilometres from Thailand's borders with Burma and Laos, which he estimated produced some 200 million tablets a year to be smuggled into Thailand. Pracha said Thailand would rely on bilateral meetings with officials from both countries to urge them to close the plants. Thailand has already started cooperating with Chinese authorities in cracking down on factories producing chemicals used in amphetamine production on Chinese soil. Chuan, speaking at a meeting of 400 high-ranking government officials, provincial governors, leaders of state enterprises and representatives of non-governmental organisations, said the PM's Office Order No 141/2541 was the new strategy in strengthening cooperation between the government and the private sector to tackle the problem of drugs. He named drug abuse and trafficking as serious threats to social security. He voiced concern about the growing number of younger addicts and the increased trafficking, especially of amphetamines. "The prevailing economic downturn seems to breed drug peddlers who are lured into the trade by its high financial rewards," he noted. The prime minister urged anti-drug authorities and the public to work together in order to resolve the problem. He observed that weakening family ties might be a root cause of drug abuse by young people. He also mentioned that international cooperation was essential to stop the supply of illicit drugs. The anti-drugs master plan aims at tackling growing drug abuse, establishing residential communities as drug-free zones, emphasising treatment, disrupting supply and mounting aggressive public relations to solicit public support against drug trafficking. In a bid to strengthen anti-drug mechanisms, PM's Office Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said every province will establish an anti-narcotics board to assist the board at the national-level. The immediate agenda of every provincial board should be to reverse the alarming trend of drug addiction among the young, he said. The average age of young drug addicts has dropped from 28 to 19 or 20 years. Charnwit Wasayangkul, the Interior Ministry's director of information, yesterday said the ministry had instructed provincial governors to tighten their enforcement of anti- drug regulations. The ministerial instruction specifically focused on strict supervision of local government personnel to refrain from getting involved in drug production and trafficking rings, the updating of criminal records on drug-related offences and the strict review of bail application related to drugs charges. The Nation / 4 September 1998 Headlines Police chief slams Laos, Burma drug factories BANGKOK -- Thailand's national police director yesterday accused neighbouring Burma and Laos of allowing large numbers of illicit amphetamine factories to operate on their soil. "Everybody knows that our two neighbouring countries, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, are major producers of amphetamines," General Pracha Promnok said after attending a high-level anti-narcotics meeting chaired by Premier Chuan Leekpai. "Myanmar and Laos have no problems because they are receiving money, and their laws are allowing them to do so," Pracha said. He said he knew of eight drug plants located three to five kilometres from Thailand's borders with Burma and Laos, which he estimated would produce some 200 million tablets this year to be smuggled into Thailand. Pracha said Thailand would rely on bilateral meetings with officials from both countries to pressure them to close the factories. Thailand has already begun cooperating with Chinese authorities in cracking down on plants producing chemicals used in amphetamine production operating on Chinese soil. The Thai government has recently set up national drug operation centres, staffed by military, police, interior ministry and customs officials, in Bangkok and all 76 provinces. Alarmed with the lowering age of drug addicts, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday convened a national meeting to unveil a new anti-drug strategy. Chuan, speaking to 400 government officials, provincial governors, leaders of state enterprises and representatives of non-governmental organisations, said he had ordered the new master plan to strengthen cooperation between the government and the private sector to tackle drugs problem. He named drug abuse and trafficking as the most serious threat to the kingdom's social security. He voiced concern about the growing number of younger addicts and the increase in trafficking, particularly in amphetamines. "The prevailing economic downturn seems to breed drug peddlers who have been lured to the illicit trade by its high financial rewards," he said. The prime minister urged anti-drugs authorities and the public to work together in order to resolve the drugs problem. He observed that weakening family ties might be one root cause of drug abuse by young people. He said international cooperation was essential to stop supplies of illicit drugs. The amphetamine production bases were often located in neighbouring countries, even though local authorities might not condone the illicit drug trade, he said. The anti-drugs master plan is aimed at tackling growing drug abuse among youth, a stronger emphasis on drug treatment, disrupting supplies of illicit drugs and mounting aggressive public relations campaigns for public support in combatting the problem. PM's Office Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said every province would establish its own anti-narcotics board to assist the national-level board. The most urgent mission of every provincial board is to reverse the alarming trend of drug addiction among young people, he said. The average age of young drug addicts has dropped from 28-years-old to the 19-20 age group. Charnwit Wasayangkul, the Interior Ministry's director of information, yesterday said the ministry has instructed provincial governors to tighten enforcement of anti-drug regulations. The ministerial instruction specifically focused on the strict supervision of local government personnel to refrain them from getting involved in the drug production and trafficking rings, updating the criminal records of drug offenders and a strict review of all bail applications related to drugs charges. The Nation, Agence France-Presse Singapore, Vietnam win; Indonesia, Thailand to face off again By PAUL ALEXANDER / Associated Press Writer HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Vietnam's coach called it justice. For his Thai counterpart, it's "some kind of punishment." Vietnam capitalized on its chances beat defending champion Thailand 3-0 Thursday night to earn a spot in the Tiger Cup final against Singapore, a 2-1 winner over Indonesia. The outcomes create two intriguing rematches Saturday: Vietnam and Singapore played to a goalless draw in a rain- drenched group qualifying match. Indonesia and Thailand, which meet in the consolation game, played in Monday night's farce, when both tried not to win because they didn't want to face Vietnam and its rabid fans in the semifinals. Indonesia scored an own goal with time running out to get the preferred matchup, but then couldn't take advantage by losing to Singapore. Thailand, the highest-ranked team in the eight-nation competition, lost for the first time in four matches with Vietnam. "It serves them both right," one fan said. The Tiger Cup organizing committee has urged a dlrs 40,000 fine for each team. With a dlrs 20,000 prize for third place, both would lose money if the maximum sanction is levied. The ASEAN Football Federation will meet Friday to consider the recommendation. Further sanctions are possible when the Asian Football Confederation meets next week. The manager of Thailand's national team already has resigned in disgrace. Vietnam's Austrian coach, Alfred Riedl, said he thought the punishment was too light. "Thank God, justice was on our side," he told the post- match news conference. "Luck was on our side." It certainly looked that way as Thailand's players -- who coach Withaya Laohakul said were in a "bad mood" -- came out looking like they had something to prove. With a heavy police presence on hand, they kept the play almost constantly in the Vietnamese end but couldn't finish. "In the first half, Thailand was the better team," Riedl said. "We played too nervous. We made too many bad passes." Still, the Vietnamese took advantage when they got a chance. After a free kick caused a scramble in front of the Thai net in the 15th minute, Truong Viet Hoang scored to spark frenzied celebrations. Those grew in intensity after Nguyen Hong Son got free on a breakaway in the 70th minute and made it 2-0 after his first attempt was blocked. Van Sy Hung closed out the scoring in the 80th minute, again on a breakaway. He was ejected a minute later for a red card but Thailand could not capitalize. When the match ended, fans took to the streets in droves for a celebration they said would last through the night. Fans on motorbike sped around waving Vietnamese flags. Faced with heading back to Ho Chi Minh City to play Indonesia again "is some kind of punishment for the Thai team," Withaya said. Indonesia must feel the same. Ho Chi Minh City's 22,000-seat Thong Nhat Stadium was only about a third-full Thursday. Those who did show up made their sentiments clear: They wanted Indonesia to lose. Many sat during the Indonesian national anthem. They went crazy when Singapore scored in the 13th minute as Nazri bin Nasir fired a perfect free kick from the sideline and Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Ali broke free with a crisp header right in front of the goal. Nasir was the beneficiary of a good pass in the 30th minute, gathering himself in front, turning and firing into the corner to make it 2-0. Mirobaldo Bento got one back in the 34th minute on an opportunistic rebound, but that was all Indonesia could muster.