61 volunteer for drug testing

KATHU: Sixty-one volunteers turned up at the Kathu Meeting Hall today to have their urine tested for drugs – and two of the tests turned purple. At another meeting in Phuket Town, 73 people with drugs in their past made a solemn pledge to stay away from drugs from now on. Kathu District Chief Sutin Uthaitamrong – who, along with local officials and police, had his urine tested a couple of weeks ago – said he was pleased at the number of people who turned up to provide a sample: 45 from Kathu and 16 from Patong and Kamala. The two purple samples will be sent to Bangkok for further testing because some legitimate drugs also give a positive response. Results take two weeks. In Phuket Town, the 73 people with drugs in their past met at the old conference hall on Narisorn Rd. Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi told them they were brave to step forward and report to police. “Thailand should be in competition with Singapore or Malaysia, but if we destroy people’s brains [with drugs] we will be competing with Laos, Cambodia or the Burmese,” he said. In a ceremony conducted in front of a picture of HM the King, all 73 took a solemn oath not to be involved with drugs anymore. “If I break this vow, may I have the worst possible life and die by the spear, sword or gun,” they chanted. “But if I keep it, may I live a good life forever.” They then drank holy water to seal the vow.