War on drugs

Re: “11 drug plants ‘churn out 20m pills a day,”’ ( BP, April 9).

The evidence in recent decades is as consistent as it is compelling: the only reason to criminalise the personal decisions of adults to use drugs that do not harm others is to profit mafia scum and their loyally corrupt officials, judges and lawmakers. Thailand’s wilful persistence in the face of known failures only proves that lawmakers and officials find it highly rewarding to pursue drug policies disastrous to Thai society, with no concern for that society beyond their purely self-serving interests.

The notable exception has been former justice minister Paiboon Koomchaya, who proposed sensible drug reforms that are long overdue. This sensible man gave the ruling junta an opportunity to actually introduce solid reforms to benefit the nation, but was rejected.

Meanwhile, families continue to bear the appalling cost of the indefensible policies inflicted on them by politicians, and since the military also has a vested interest in the suppression of adults regarding recreational choices, specifically, being paid by the state to engage in costly Ramboesque escapades, it is not credible that the recurring military coups bear a large part of the responsibility for the harm that addictive drugs continue to inflict. FELIX QUI