Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has taken over as the general in charge of the next big battle in the war on drugs. The old commander, Thaksin Shinawatra, is in no position to lead the charge again. What is remarkable about Mr Chalerm's announcement of the next crackdown is its similarity to that of his mentor's in Dubai.
Back in 2003, Thaksin warned the street peddlers and drug carriers to stop selling drugs or they would suffer the consequences. Mr Chalerm, in his TV appearance on Saturday, sounded much like Thaksin. It is alarming to hear Mr Chalerm predict again that drug dealers are going to die in the crackdown. It is depressing to hear how little progress has been made in nine years. When Thaksin, as a very popular prime minister, announced his war on drugs in 2003, he could talk tough. But the ex-police officer more than backed up his threats. He effectively cut the police loose from the rule of law. In the resulting nationwide "war on drugs" more than 2,600 people were killed. They included clearly innocent bystanders, as well as hundreds of suspected petty drug dealers, many of whom were undoubtedly a scourge on their neighbourhoods but still deserved their day in court more than a bullet to the brain.
Thaksin blithely told the country, and later an appalled world, that those killed during his crackdown died at the hands of drug gangs. He insisted then, and still does, that the gang leaders and "Mr Bigs" of Thailand's drug trade were afraid that the street dealers would try to cut a legal agreement with the police, and therefore the gangs killed them before they could talk.
It is difficult to believe that even Thaksin believed such balderdash, though not many fellow citizens did. After nine years, innocent survivors of that police lawlessness still await justice. The United Nations and human rights groups still use Thaksin's "war on drugs" to harm Thailand's image.
It may not surprise everyone that in 2012 Mr Chalerm has repeated Thaksin's tamperings with the truth. The deputy premier is both an avowed admirer of Thaksin and a public proponent of dealing swiftly with suspected drug dealers. It was chilling, however, to hear Thaksin's so-called justifications out of Mr Chalerm's mouth as he spoke of the upcoming campaign. Just like in Thaksin's time, police would show restraint, even kindness. "Those involved in drug networks might be killed by drug gangs." First we have the alibi, just in case later there is accusation of a crime.
Popular sentiment in Thailand is strongly against drugs and we should not have to suffer drug gangs or street peddlers. But Mr Chalerm's renewed war on drugs sounds just like all the old battles _ grab some minor neighbourhood drug sellers, and declare success. The gangs and Mr Bigs of drug trafficking will remain largely or entirely unaffected.
After decades of seeing jailed drug sellers continue their trafficking from inside prisons, the Department of Corrections is going to isolate such men in an attempt to stop drug peddling from within the jails. It is a simple, promising decision. In his war on drugs, Mr Chalerm should come up with a few imaginative steps of his own, to get at the root of drug abuse and trafficking. Otherwise, the war will simply continue, without visible progress and only more loss of life.