Stop the Murder of Thai Drug Users Campaign

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, The (Methadone) Alliance, the UK Harm Reduction Alliance, Transform Drug Policy Institute 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.

Support has been pledged by Lifeline Publications to bring Thai drug users over to the UK for the day of action and to provide a first hand account of their experiences. The International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) have pledged to pay for accommodation and expenses for the visit.

There will be high profile actions in support of Thai drug users at the Thai Embassy in London and at the consulate in Liverpool and in other regions across the UK. Plans are rapidly being developed and will be announced on both the UKHRA and Lifeline web sites as soon as they are confirmed.

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 governments 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 demonstration outside the Thai consulate in Liverpool or the Thai Embassy in London 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. T-shirts supporting the action can also be purchased from Lifeline with all profits going to the Thai Drug User Network.

Details of the event and more details about the situation can be found on the UKHRA website (http://www.ukhra.org) and the Lifeline website (http://www.lifeline.org.uk). Lifeline’s website is also the place to visit to buy a T-shirt. Anybody wanting more information or to pledge support or help or wants to organise locally can contact Michael Linnell at Lifeline (michael@lifeline.org.uk).

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.

*** T-shirts in support of this action are available from www.lifeline.org.uk All profits will be donated to the Thai Drug User Network ***