Prayut calls urgent meeting on drug abuse, gun problems

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called an urgent meeting on Wednesday to lay down measures to deal with drug abuse and gun violence, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Tuesday.

Mr Anucha said the meeting would be held at the Pakdi Bodin building at Government House, starting 9.30am.

The meeting, chaired by Gen Prayut, would be attended by deputy prime ministers Prawit Wongsuwon, Wissanu Krea-ngam, Anutin Charnvirakul and Don Pramudwinai, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin, Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong and Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol.

Also in attendance would be the attorney general, presidents of the courts of justice, commander of the Royal Thai Police and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. 

Mr Anucha said the meeting would decide on measures for the prevention and suppression of drug abuse and gun violence, rehabilitation of offenders and the prevention and solving of mental problems.

He said the government attaches high importance to problems related to the possession of firearms and illicit drugs. It wants to find ways to solve them systematically and prevent a recurrence of the mass shooting at a childcare centre in Na Klang district of Nong Bua Lamphu province on Oct 6 in which 36 people, including 24 children, were killed by a former police officer sacked for methamphetamine use who later took his own life.