Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Vejjayachai reaffirmed the necessity of regional collaboration in combating drug sources, following comments made by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra concerning the Wa Red group in Myanmar. Thaksin suggested that if the Myanmar government is unable to manage the situation, Thailand should intervene independently. Phumtham acknowledged the importance of the relationship between the two nations and stressed the need to evaluate the conditions and limitations affecting this issue.

According to Thai News Agency, Phumtham confirmed that Thailand’s policy will continue to focus on seeking cooperation from neighboring countries to suppress drug trafficking. He highlighted his recent discussions in Laos, where he sought and received agreement on collaborative efforts to address the drug problem, recognizing it as a shared threat.

Regarding Thaksin’s suggestion to assess the performance of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which has a budget exceeding 7 billion baht for addressing drug issues and problems in southern border provinces, Phumtham stated that such matters should be directed to Thaksin. He emphasized that Thaksin’s statements are based on his own experiences and past actions. Phumtham noted that while considering Thaksin’s opinions, any actions taken will be evaluated for their appropriateness.