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BAN PA-KWOW, THAILAND, January 28, 2002: Ban Pa-Kwow’s 200 adult villagers, seated in a Buddhist temple, are asked to write the name of persons suspected of involvement in use or trafficking of drugs. After the unsigned papers are put into a box, officials read the names and record them on a blackboard. A person whose name appears more than 5 times must answer the assembly. A confession results in the accused being sent for medical help and a denial leads to more discussion among villagers. If a majority finds the accusations warranted, the offenders are made social outcasts. People are urged not to help them with their harvests or invite them to parties or even talk to them. This threat of social sanctions is the latest weapon in a widening war on drugs, especially methamphetamine, the synthetic stimulant that has been declared Thailand’s public enemy #1. The Health Ministry estimates 2.4 million of Thailand’s 62 million people use the drug. Because Thai villagers are such close knit communities, it is hoped that such sanctions will help wipe out the medium and small scale dealers.

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