Killings won't solve drug problem, ex-Thai PM Abhisit says

Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reflects on Thailand's own war on drugs, which was similar to President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign
Rappler (Philippines)
Saturday, October 21, 2017

Recounting the experience of Thailand, former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said killing addicts can never solve the drug problem, as long as there is a demand for illegal substances. Thaksin's war on drugs was similar to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign. The drug war in Thailand, for one, led to at least 2,800 drug-related deaths. An investigation showed that more than half of the casualties had no dealings with drugs. Abhisit explained that when Thailand launched its drug war, "it was because people became impatient with the drug problem." "But when they engaged in extrajudicial killings and abuses of rights, this became more and more of a concern," he said.