PEOPLE’S MP Rangsiman Rome mocked Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s goal to solve the drug trafficking problem in six months’ time saying he only give orders while this government has turned into one that is good at talking, Naewna newspaper said last evening (Dec.30).
That the government has ordered drug suppression is nothing new as all governments launch this drive, he said, adding there has to be separation between simply talking and actually taking action.
The authorities have to look at the root cause to work out why Thailand has failed to suppress drug trafficking entirely especially when it comes to assets with this mainly due to drug networks now being more complicated and using technology.
Should procedures not be amended, drug suppression will be backward, Rangsima said, adding the authorities should start by preventing the country’s resources from being in the hands of drug dealers, particularly electricity generation.
The People’s MP pointed to Wa rebels of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) which is said to be the largest drug-producing organisation in Southeast Asia and while the Myanmar government does not officially recognise the sovereignty of Wa state, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) has frequently allied with the UWSA to fight against Shan nationalist militia groups, such as the Shan State Army.
At the same time, Thailand heavily relies on natural gas imports from Myanmar with pipelines passing through ethnic territories.
Phumtham must also look at Thailand not just as a destination for drugs but as a transit point, he added.
Rangsiman also pointed to Wa rebels having encroached on Thai territory in the high terrains of Mae Hong Son’s Pai district and set up a base there with there being no clarity on what is going to be done on this issue.
“It turns out the government is not clear about anything. They just give orders, just talk, and are good at talking. It has become a government that only talks. I do not believe that the drug (suppression) will be seriously effective as long as these drug trafficking networks are not stamped out,” said Mr. Rangsiman.
When asked if the drug problem will be raised at the upcoming no-confidence debate, Rangsiman said People’s Party is still in the process of deciding which issues should be debated as there are many of them to focus on and he is worried there might not be enough time to debate them all.
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Top and Front Page: People’s MP Rangsiman Rome, left, and Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, right. Photo: MCOT on FM 100.5
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