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Published on Jan 11, 2002 Bangkok Post

University students would not be spared

Temsak Traisophon and Ampa Santimataneedol

Urine tests will be made mandatory for students in all schools, including universities, as the social order campaign moves into its next phase.

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun said the Interior, Education and University Affairs ministries would implement the plan under the direction of the Narcotics Control Board.

Mr Purachai said he had discussed the matter with the education and university affairs ministers at a recent cabinet meeting.

Another meeting would be held on Jan 25.

All students would have to undergo urine testing, subject to parental consent, he said.

Those found to have used drugs would be treated under protection and their records kept confidential.

Teachers and parents would have to pay more attention to young people in their charge, said Mr Purachai.

Yongyuth Wongpiromsanti, director of the Mental Health Promotion Office of the Mental Health Department, said urine testing in schools would not help solve the problem in the long run.

``Usually half of those involved with drugs are users and dealers. The best way to solve this problem is to force them to quit drugs,'' he said.

People could protect young people in other ways.

``Families and schools can protect younger children.

``But we have to shield older children from bad influence from the media,'' he said.

Mr Purachai also said he would talk to the Justice Ministry about heavier penalties for people who rape children.

He planned to change the law to provide for life behind bars for buying sex or having sex with minors _ even with their consent.

A senior police officer at Lumphini station has been accused of buying sex from an underage girl forced into prostitution.

Pol Lt-Col Sakda Changrua, a deputy traffic superintendent, was accused of buying sex from a 12-year-old girl.

Mr Purachai said United States law divided rape into two types _ forceful rape and statutory rape.

The same distinction could be made here.

Noting it would be difficult to change the attitude of Thai men toward sexual abuse of children, Mr Purachai said the law on statutory rape should carry heavier penalties.

Mr Purachai said he was serious about stamping out any form of child abuse, regardless of where it took place.

Somchai Homla-or, chairman of the human rights committee of the Law Society, said he agreed a rapist should get a life sentence if the use of force was involved.

However, he believed heavy penalties were not the right way to solve the problem.

First, he wanted to see existing laws enforced properly, without fear or favour.

Police and prosecutors should work with transparency in a straightforward manner, he said.

Montri Sinthawichai, secretary-general of the Child Protection Foundation, said a law on statutory rape was already in place.

Those who commit statutory rape of girls under 13 could get anything from seven years to life behind bars.

Laws were not being enforced properly, giving wrongdoers the opportunity to escape punishment by offering bribes.

Many rape victims later reversed their statements in court, Mr Montri said.