There were some 2,300 drug-related killings over the three months of the government's highly controversial war on drugs. Although the government vehemently denies it, the majority of these are suspected of being the handiwork of law enforcement officers. So it came as no surprise when many greeted the current war on dark influence with suspicion, particularly when it was revealed that ``opinion leaders'' were among those to be brought down.

Sant Sarutanont, the national police chief, stunned reporters when he told them at the launch of the campaign on Tuesday that ``opinion leaders'' were among four groups of influential people to be suppressed _ the other three being those who influence politics, finance and trade. Anyone in a position to influence people to carry out illegal activities, including protests, will be targeted. He gave as an example those who incited protests against the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline.

There was an immediate, understandable outcry. Critics charged it was clearly aimed at non-governmental organisations which work at the village level and are in the forefront of most conflicts between the state and local communities. Academics, writers, journalists, broadcasters, social critics _ in fact, just about anyone who expresses his or her thoughts publicly _ should be worried. They all could be considered as influencing public opinion.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Pol Gen Sant tried to dismiss the concerns as another misunderstanding of government intentions. NGOs and critics, they assured, were free to organise activities and express any opinion they wanted. But these should keep within the confines of the law and if they should lead to illegal activity, such as blocking a road during a protest, then they will be dealt with.

If this is the case, why include opinion leaders in the war on dark influence? These people have the constitutional right to criticise the government, and to organise marches in support of their views. If these demonstrations get out of hand or degenerate into violence, there are already laws on public order to prosecute the guilty. The government just pays lip service to freedom to protest. At the same time it holds organisers responsible for any individual act of violence to deter its critics from organising public expressions of dissatisfaction. Any speaker at any public rally could be prosecuted if just one person is involved in a scuffle with police. Public protests will become impossible to organise. Freedom of speech and/or assembly will be lost to the Thai people.

This government is taking advantage of its campaign against dark influence to put down all opponents. It cloaks this high-handed action in a campaign it knows has public support. But this is misuse of power. How can opinion leaders be lumped together with criminal thugs and extortionists? Only the most reactionary dictatorship could do this. It is another sign of the creeping authoritarianism this administration is inflicting on Thais' hard won democracy. The control freaks heading this administration must be resisted in their attempts to curtail our freedoms and liberties. But in saying this, is this newspaper exercising a dangerous influence on public opinion?

We have no qualms with the thrust of this campaign. Thailand has suffered too long from political, economic and criminal corruption. Provincial godfathers and businessmen buy their way into political office to fix state contracts for personal benefit. Underworld figures, often police or military, prey on motorcycle taxis and trade in drugs, women and children. These are the people the government should be after in its war on dark influence. They are the enemy of the people _ but perhaps not the enemy of the government. There is a difference.