BP: Nations plan drug-free regi

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

June 8, 1998


                                     


              Nations plan
              drug-free region

              'We want to underline our commitment
              to the international community'

              Nusara Thaitawat

              Thailand and its five Mekong neigbours, the source of over 50
              percent of the world's opium and heroin output, will commit
              themselves to the international community this week to create a
              region free of illicit drugs.

              No timeframe was specified in the two-page joint declaration,
              but it is understood that the six countries aim for 2008 in line with
              the targets being set out at the special session on drugs of the
              United Nations General Assembly, which opens today in New
              York.

              "(We) desire to create a zone free of illicit drug production,
              trafficking and use," the six countries say.

              Burma, China, Laos and Thailand signed an agreement to work
              together to fight drugs in 1993 under the auspices of the UN
              International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), Cambodia
              and Vietnam joined them in 1995.

              This move by the Mekong countries is in addition to their
              endorsement of a global political initiative and six specific action
              plans on precursor chemicals, amphetamine-type stimulants,
              judicial cooperation, money laundering, elimination of illicit crops
              and alternative development, and demand reduction, to come out
              of the three-day special session.

              "We want to underline our commitment to the international
              community," said Payont Pansiri, secretary general of the Office
              of Narcotics Control Board.

              The joint declaration is concise, spelling out what the six
              countries are determined to do and at the same time what they
              want the international community to do to complement their
              efforts in order to ensure success.

              Mr Payont told the Bangkok Post before leaving for New York
              that it is now accepted worldwide that the drugs problem is
              borderless and no country can deal with it on its own.

              "We've always argued who's to blame. Source countries claim
              because there's demand, there's supply, while consumer
              countries which in the past were the more advanced countries,
              put the blame on the producers. This argument is no longer
              valid," he said.

              The Mekong region itself is confronted with being a producer, a
              transit point and abuser, while what were formerly consumer
              countries, such as the US and the Europe, have also become
              producers, specialising in synthetic drugs.

              Mr Payont said the biggest challenge facing the world today is
              demand reduction, and not eradication. "It's a social problem
              which is most complex to resolve. No country has been able to
              deal with it successfully so far," he said.

              Explaining the joint declaration, Mr Payont said the Mekong
              countries "strongly reaffirm their determination" to fight drug
              problems in compliance with UN conventions, through a
              balanced, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approaches and
              within their social and economic context.

              They "affirm their readiness to redouble their efforts" to support
              sub-regional and cross-border cooperation to prevent illicit
              production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs.

              They express their determination to strengthen their cooperation
              both at the sub-regional and bilateral levels and their decision to
              set up an operation network to coordinate their efforts.

              On cooperation from the international community, they call for
              market access for produces from crop substitution projects to
              create a sustainable economic environment and prevent opium
              poppy growers from going back to opium crops.

              States which are the sources, transit points and destination of
              precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs should do
              all they can to tighten control over their trade and use.

              In this year's World Drug Report, issued by the UNDCP,
              European countries have been criticised for their reluctance to
              tighten control over chemicals for fear their lucrative chemical
              industry will be affected.

              And finally, the six countries stressed the need for consumer
              countries to strengthen their demand reduction programmes to
              cover all areas of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social
              reintegration with particular emphasis on community participation
              aimed at specific target groups, especially the youth.

              Thailand and other countries in the region are not afraid to group
              themselves with Burma, which is the world's single largest
              producer of opium and heroin and which has often come under
              international criticism for its perceived lack of sincerity in
              addressing the issue.

              "We're confident in our intentions to achieve the goals set out in
              the joint declaration. Burma is doing its best and and has a real
              determination. We're confident that with international
              cooperation and with efforts made by all sides, we can eventually
              create a region free of illicit drugs," he said.

              The Thai delegation is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai
              Rattakul, and also includes former ONCB secretary general Pol
              Gen Chavalit Yodmani and ONCB deputy secretary general
              Sorasit Sangprasert.

              Of the Mekong countries, Burma, China and Vietnam are parties
              to the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
              and Psychotrpic Substances.

              Cambodia, Laos and Thailand are still working on their
              legislations.




                                     




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