Stop the murder of Thai drug users

The banner promoting the June 12, 2003 protest has been moved here.

An international day of action is planned in support of drug users in Thailand on 12th June. So far, this collective action is being officially supported by Lifeline UK, The (Methadone) Alliance, the UK Harm Reduction Alliance, the Network Against Prohibition International and the International Harm Reduction Association, along with many drug user activists and others who are outraged at the extra-judicial killing of drug users that has become common in Thailand since their government pledged to completely eliminate drug use this year.

There will be high profile actions in support of Thai drug users at the Thai Embassy’s in Canberra, London and Moscow and at the offices of Thai Airways International in various cities across the globe. In Darwin, the Network Against Prohibition will be conducting a banner drop at a busy intersection and will present a petition to our Federal Member Dave Tollner, calling for the Australian government to demand the Thai government end its genocidal war on drugs.

We are calling on all drug services, drug user groups and individuals to support this action. Whilst the plight of drug users is dire in many countries including our own, the situation in Thailand is different: 3,000 people have been killed since January in the government’s war on drugs. If they were being murdered because of the colour of their skin or religion there would have been an international outcry, this has not happened because they are drug users and seen as 'disposable' human beings.

We would ask anybody who can to turn up at the banner drop or visit to Dave Tollner’s office on the 12th June. If you cannot make it we ask that you arrange to hold a minute silence in your workplace at 2-OOpm on the 12th. You could also send an email to our foreign minister Alexander Downer demanding that our government take action: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au

NAP will also present a public forum on the Thai situation at 7pm on Wednesday the 11th of June at the Darwin Railway Club, Somerville Gardens Road, Parap.

Could you also please put this on your notice boards and send it to anybody who may be interested, we are particularly keen for drug users to be involved in this protest.