Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called on the government to take tough and decisive action against transboundary drug trafficking, warning that Thailand may take matters into its own hands if Myanmar is unable to act due to issues involving ethnic minorities.
“We must cooperate seriously with Myanmar to address the root cause of the problem. If Myanmar cannot do the job, we may have to do it ourselves, because it is our enemy,” Thaksin said.
He was speaking during a special lecture on “Narcotics and Transnational Crime: Perspectives and Sustainable Solutions” at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board. His appearance attracted media attention, as he had not been seen in public for nearly two weeks, sparking rumors that he had fled the country to avoid a court hearing.
He singled out the United Wa State Army (UWSA) as the prime target, stating that Thailand should show no mercy to its enemies.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from neighboring countries to seek cooperation in cracking down on the UWSA and applying pressure to stop its drug production. “If you continue producing, you are an enemy of Thailand. The Thai government should make this clear,” Thaksin declared.
Responding to Thaksin’s claims, UWSA spokesperson Nyi Rang said, “It is just an accusation.”
“They need to present evidence for their claim. We are fighting [drugs], as they are. Everyone knows there are multiple armed groups in the border regions. We have been continuously fighting [drugs],” he told The Irrawaddy.
Thailand’s claims that drugs come from Wa territory does not necessarily mean the Wa are involved in the drug trade, he added.
“We live in the border region, and drug trafficking from inland will inevitably pass through the border,” he said.
Describing illegal narcotics as a current and future threat, particularly to youth, Thaksin said, “We are losing our children to this problem,” and expressed his willingness to assist, but noted that he cannot travel freely due to court-imposed bail conditions, related to his alleged lèse-majesté violation, which require him to seek court approval before traveling abroad.
Thaksin said he will seek Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s permission to visit local communities, to investigate illegal drug-related activities, and report his findings to the Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary.
He also proposed diverting a portion of the 157-billion baht (US$4.79-billion) “digital wallet” budget to fund anti-drug campaigns, including the establishment of rehabilitation centers in every district.
“With the reallocation of funds, the public would not be upset by a delay in the digital wallet scheme,” he claimed.
The Irrawaddy’s Zaw Myant Khnat contributed reporting.
