Bringing Thaksin To Account

[hammered]

Just to confirm that the PPP will re instate the murderous drug scheme that Thaksin initiated.

God forbid they / the party get elected to govern the country, and not only because of the war on drugs re start either !!!!

Quote

Noppadon Pattama, the party deputy secretary-general, told the crowd the drug suppression scheme, initiated by Thai Rak Thai, would also be re-implemented should the party win the election.

Unquote

Taken from todays B.Post and possibly posted in another context elsewhere.

Ref. url:-

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=123659

marshbags

And in the meantime all the drug barons supporting the TRT/PPP can get back to doing their business thereby creating a new "drug problem" and instilling a desire for the return of the murderous policy which of course did not target the drug barons associated with supporting the T regime. Politcs is a wonderful game.

[Plus]

Just yesterday the biggest fish Thaksin ever caught, some Laota guy from up North, was exonerated of all charges due to the lack of evidence.

There was also a well publicised arrest in Bangkok, anyone knows what came out of it?

[Coffee Drinker]

DRUG TRAFFICKING TRIAL

Ex-Khun Sa aide acquittal upheld

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court ruling, acquitting Laota Saenlee, a former close aide of drug kingpin Khun Sa, as well as Mr Laota's sons, of drug trafficking. Mr Laota and his sons, Vijarn and Sukkasem, were acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence. They were arrested on June 12, 2003 at their house and charged with drug trafficking after a narcotics suspect, Somsak Pimpimai, implicated them in the trade.

Mr Laota and Mr Sukkasem were also charged with illegal possession of firearms. According to the Supreme Court, the prosecution failed to produce substantial evidence to prove the charges against the trio. The Criminal Court and the Appeals Court acquitted the father and his sons of drug trafficking charges but found Mr Laota and Mr Vijarn guilty of illegally possessing firearms and sentenced them to one year and four months in jail each. Mr Laota was also acquitted by the Supreme Court in another drug trafficking case because of a lack of evidence.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Nov2007_news05.php

[Tony Clifton]

DRUG TRAFFICKING TRIAL

Ex-Khun Sa aide acquittal upheld

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court ruling, acquitting Laota Saenlee, a former close aide of drug kingpin Khun Sa, as well as Mr Laota's sons, of drug trafficking. Mr Laota and his sons, Vijarn and Sukkasem, were acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence. They were arrested on June 12, 2003 at their house and charged with drug trafficking after a narcotics suspect, Somsak Pimpimai, implicated them in the trade.

Mr Laota and Mr Sukkasem were also charged with illegal possession of firearms. According to the Supreme Court, the prosecution failed to produce substantial evidence to prove the charges against the trio. The Criminal Court and the Appeals Court acquitted the father and his sons of drug trafficking charges but found Mr Laota and Mr Vijarn guilty of illegally possessing firearms and sentenced them to one year and four months in jail each. Mr Laota was also acquitted by the Supreme Court in another drug trafficking case because of a lack of evidence.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Nov2007_news05.php

Just one more of those intentionally botched police jobs.

All show, no content.

Edited November 17, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[marshbags]

Just to add insult to horrendous injury to the plight of all the victims effected by the EKJ,s, not forgetting all the other outstanding acts of evil and murderous actions committed under the watch of the TRT and Thaksin that are as of yet un addressed.

Courtesy of the Nation B. news at 16.41 today:-

Quote

PPP backs Chaturon's human rights complaint.

The People Power Party voiced support on Monday for banned party executives to get involved with domestic and international human rights groups in the fight against the curbing of their campaign activities.

The Election Commission's (EC) prohibition for banned executives to make campaign speeches had impacted on campaigning plans, PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said.

The PPP had previously scheduled for banned executives, such as Chaturon Chaisang and Adisorn Piengket, to lead the campaign rallies, he said.

He urged banned executives to join Chaturon to petition for the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission and the Londonbased Amnesty International to overturn the ruling by the EC on Friday.

The Nation

Unquote

Ref url:- http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30056668

How obscene can you get when you consider all the real HR issues they and the banned party they boast about representing seemingly ignore in totallity ??????

<deleted>

It shows of course were their priorities are !!!!!!!!

marshbags and dend by it all.

Edited November 19, 2007 by marshbags

[sriracha john]

Extremely damning developments...

Thaksin government accused in drugs report

Rights violations to be made clearer

Six sub-committees investigating the extra-judicial killings that took place during the war on drugs waged by the Thaksin administration plan to issue a report detailing how the previous government had violated human rights. Chanchao Chaiyanukij, Secretary to the Independent Commission for Study and Analysis of the Formation and Implementation of Drug Suppression Policy (ICID), said the sub-panels would present their combined report on the progress in their investigations to the ICID on Dec 1. It will be the first report to the ICID, which was set up by the interim government to investigate the deaths of some 2,500 people during the three-month drug suppression drive from in 2003. The commission has set up six sub-panels to carry out the probes. The sub-panel headed by Office of the Narcotics Control Board's Secretary-General Kitti Limchaikij had by far made the most progress in their work. The sub-panel had gathered evidence documenting orders and drug suppression policies issued by the Thaksin cabinet and CDs showing sessions where Thaksin chaired, gave instructions and sent signals that led to the extra-judicial killings. In addition, the sub-panel had information on the making of a blacklist of those involved in drug trafficking and how the orders were given to get rid of some of the men on the blacklist. The report also describes how innocent people were framed for drug offences they did not commit.

More damning developments continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20Nov2007_news09.php

[hammered]

Just to add insult to horrendous injury to the plight of all the victims effected by the EKJ,s, not forgetting all the other outstanding acts of evil and murderous actions committed under the watch of the TRT and Thaksin that are as of yet un addressed.

Courtesy of the Nation B. news at 16.41 today:-

Quote

PPP backs Chaturon's human rights complaint.

The People Power Party voiced support on Monday for banned party executives to get involved with domestic and international human rights groups in the fight against the curbing of their campaign activities.

The Election Commission's (EC) prohibition for banned executives to make campaign speeches had impacted on campaigning plans, PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said.

The PPP had previously scheduled for banned executives, such as Chaturon Chaisang and Adisorn Piengket, to lead the campaign rallies, he said.

He urged banned executives to join Chaturon to petition for the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission and the Londonbased Amnesty International to overturn the ruling by the EC on Friday.

The Nation

Unquote

Ref url:- http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30056668

How obscene can you get when you consider all the real HR issues they and the banned party they boast about representing seemingly ignore in totallity ??????

<deleted>

It shows of course were their priorities are !!!!!!!!

marshbags and dend by it all.

They are turning it unsurprisingly into a political rather than legal issue. There is an irony considering they come form the very government that rejected all comments by bodies to which they now appeal in ragerds to the extrajudicail policy.

[hammered]

Extremely damning developments...

Thaksin government accused in drugs report

Rights violations to be made clearer

Six sub-committees investigating the extra-judicial killings that took place during the war on drugs waged by the Thaksin administration plan to issue a report detailing how the previous government had violated human rights. Chanchao Chaiyanukij, Secretary to the Independent Commission for Study and Analysis of the Formation and Implementation of Drug Suppression Policy (ICID), said the sub-panels would present their combined report on the progress in their investigations to the ICID on Dec 1. It will be the first report to the ICID, which was set up by the interim government to investigate the deaths of some 2,500 people during the three-month drug suppression drive from in 2003. The commission has set up six sub-panels to carry out the probes. The sub-panel headed by Office of the Narcotics Control Board's Secretary-General Kitti Limchaikij had by far made the most progress in their work. The sub-panel had gathered evidence documenting orders and drug suppression policies issued by the Thaksin cabinet and CDs showing sessions where Thaksin chaired, gave instructions and sent signals that led to the extra-judicial killings. In addition, the sub-panel had information on the making of a blacklist of those involved in drug trafficking and how the orders were given to get rid of some of the men on the blacklist. The report also describes how innocent people were framed for drug offences they did not commit.

More damning developments continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20Nov2007_news09.php

If the evidence against people is as damning as claimed it should be presented to courts and trials should take place.

[sriracha john]

Looks like it just might see the light of day.....

This is an extremely damaging development for the Manchester City Football owner...

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thailand Outlook

Drugs Report Clarifies Violations Made by Thaksin Regime

The deposed administration of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has recently been accused in a drugs report issued by six governmental sub-committees investigating the extra-judicial killings during the war on drugs in 2003, which detailed how the ousted government had violated human rights.

According to the Secretary to the Independent Commission for Study and Analysis of the Formation and Implementation of Drug Suppression Policy (ICID), Chanchao Chaiyanukij, the sub-committees expected to submit their extensive reports on investigative findings to the ICID on December 1st.

Reportedly, the ICID has been established by the interim government to investigate the extra-judicial killings that occurred during the three-month drug suppression initiation from February 1- April 30 of 2003, which had killed more than 2,500 victims, whose innocence have yet to be clarified.

The campaign which had been initiated by deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Cabinet has been heavily criticized by various human rights agencies over the past year.

Under the leadership of former Attorney-General Khanit Na Nakhon, the ICID has set up six sub-committees to implement the investigation.

Chanchao reported that the sub-committee chaired by the Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Kitti Limchaikij has made the most progress in its mission, where various important evidences had already been gathered.

Among the gathered evidences were documenting orders and drug suppression policies issued by the Thaksin administration along with CDs taped during meetings chaired by Thaksin, who gave Cabinet members orders and signals that led to the inhumane slaughtering in 2003.

Circular letters were also obtained by the sub-committee which showed details on drug suppression campaign made out to relevant government agencies and provincial governors, explained Chanchao.

Aside from such crucial evidences, the sub-panel has also gotten a hold of several “juicy” pieces of information on the issuance of a blacklist on individuals involved in drug trafficking and how the instructions were given to

Chanchao claimed that the submitted evidences would help clarify controversies over the alleged human rights violations imposed on the Thaksin regime and its anti-drug campaigns.

The report also claimed that large numbers of innocent people were arrested and killed for crimes which they had not committed, said Chanchao.

He added that with the submitted evidences, individuals involved with enforcing the drug suppressing policy and giving orders for the extra-judicial killings would definitely face criminal charges.

However, the ICID expected to submit the findings of all six sub-committees to the interim government by December for further evaluation.

Chanchao concluded that the ICID’s tenure would expire in August of 2008, adding that it would be up to the next government whether the commission should be deposed or remain active.

- Thailand Outlook

===========================

Of note for the naysayers is that Thaksin alone is not being targeted....

[sriracha john]

Southeast Asia: Reports Coming on Thailand's 2003 Drug War Killings

Six subcommittees investigating the killings of an estimated 2,500 drug users or traffickers during a 2003 effort to wipe out drug use in Thailand under the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will issue a first report on December 1.

The subcommittees are part of the Independent Commission for Study and Analysis of the Formation and Implementation of Drug Suppression Policy (ICID) set up by the interim government of Surayud Chulanont to investigate the killings.

According to ICID Secretary Chanchao Chaiyanukij, the six subcommittees will present a combined report. Chanchao said a subcommittee uncovering the paper trail of official orders had made the most progress. That panel has gathered evidence documenting orders and policies promulgated by the Thaksin government and videos of meeting where Thaksin "gave instructions and sent signals that led to the extra-judicial killings."

The panel also has accumulated evidence of the making of a blacklist of those involved in drug trafficking and the transmission of orders to kill them, Chanchao said. Ministers involved in giving orders to shorten the blacklist by killing those on it could face criminal charges, he said.

Chanchao said the reports would give the ICID a clear picture of human rights violations in the course of Thaksin's anti-drug campaign. They will also describe how innocent people were framed for drug offenses they did not commit, he said.

Another subcommittee has concluded that the families of four victims killed in Thaksin's drug war should receive compensation. One was Nong Fluke, a nine-year-old boy shot dead in his father's car during a police sting operation. His mother was seized by police in that incident and has not been seen since.

That panel will also present an analysis of what impact Thaksin's war on drugs had on drug use and drug sales in the country.

The other four panels will make their findings known in a second report to the ICID later this month. The ICID will submit the findings of the subcommittees to the Surayud government by year's end for evaluation.

- Drug War Chronicles

[sriracha john]

Meanwhile.... out on the current election's campaign trail.....

People Power Party candidate Chalerm Yubamrung yesterday promised to revive and intensify the war on drugs if the PPP won a mandate to form the next government. In a small rally in Huai Kwang stadium, Chalerm raised the controversial anti-narcotics policy initiated by the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and said the policy would be more ''concentrated'' under the PPP. He denied that deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra had anything to do with extra-judicial killings during the previous drugs war in which some 2,500 people lost their lives. At the same rally, PPP Leader Samak Sundaravej refused to discuss the party's platform, saying only that the party would proceed with the good policies of Thai Rak Thai.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Nov2007_news16.php

Edited November 24, 2007 by sriracha john

[marshbags]

Meanwhile.... out on the current election's campaign trail.....

People Power Party candidate Chalerm Yubamrung yesterday promised to revive and intensify the war on drugs if the PPP won a mandate to form the next government. In a small rally in Huai Kwang stadium, Chalerm raised the controversial anti-narcotics policy initiated by the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and said the policy would be more ''concentrated'' under the PPP. He denied that deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra had anything to do with extra-judicial killings during the previous drugs war in which some 2,500 people lost their lives. At the same rally, PPP Leader Samak Sundaravej refused to discuss the party's platform, saying only that the party would proceed with the good policies of Thai Rak Thai.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Nov2007_news16.php

This is choice and hypocritical comment coming from the father of a very questionable family and their ethics regarding law and order.

May i suggest he should look inward and put his own house in order as a first priority.

He can thank his lucky stars that the one sided view of Thai politics / law and order that favours the Puyai, while serving a great injustice to the majority of lesser privileged, is in place, otherwise his infamous sons would be at the very least on indefinite jail time and one of them on standby to take a journey into devils territory.

How sick this continual verbal crap is, coming from those who assume the mantle of running as potential candidates in the up and coming elections.

They should of course be speaking out for the changes that need addressing to put Thai society on a fairer and more deserving footing.

Perhaps i might suggest he throw in a name or two of the Puyai drug barons that for some mysterious reason escaped the infamous vendetta of the last government.

Mysterious my armhole, we all know why, and the fact that the policy was initiated for political gain, for the very people among them who are the drug barons and were not in any danger of being exposed or apprehended in the first place.

May they go to hel_l first were they surely have earned the right to go before being allowed to re instate this one sided murderous policy / vendetta and using the weaker citizens of society as pawns in their evil publicity stunts.

marshbags ier by the day and end

Edited November 25, 2007 by marshbags

[hammered]

Meanwhile.... out on the current election's campaign trail.....

People Power Party candidate Chalerm Yubamrung yesterday promised to revive and intensify the war on drugs if the PPP won a mandate to form the next government. In a small rally in Huai Kwang stadium, Chalerm raised the controversial anti-narcotics policy initiated by the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and said the policy would be more ''concentrated'' under the PPP. He denied that deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra had anything to do with extra-judicial killings during the previous drugs war in which some 2,500 people lost their lives. At the same rally, PPP Leader Samak Sundaravej refused to discuss the party's platform, saying only that the party would proceed with the good policies of Thai Rak Thai.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Nov2007_news16.php

This is choice and hypocritical comment coming from the father of a very questionable family and their ethics regarding law and order.

May i suggest he should look inward and put his own house in order as a first priority.

He can thank his lucky stars that the one sided view of Thai politics / law and order that favours the Puyai, while serving a great injustice to the majority of lesser privileged, is in place, otherwise his infamous sons would be at the very least on indefinite jail time and one of them on standby to take a journey into devils territory.

How sick this continual verbal crap is, coming from those who assume the mantle of running as potential candidates in the up and coming elections.

They should of course be speaking out for the changes that need addressing to put Thai society on a fairer and more deserving footing.

Perhaps i might suggest he throw in a name or two of the Puyai drug barons that for some mysterious reason escaped the infamous vendetta of the last government.

Mysterious my armhole, we all know why, and the fact that the policy was initiated for political gain, for the very people among them who are the drug barons and were not in any danger of being exposed or apprehended in the first place.

May they go to hel_l first were they surely have earned the right to go before being allowed to re instate this one sided murderous policy / vendetta and using the weaker citizens of society as pawns in their evil publicity stunts.

marshbags ier by the day and end

It does remind one of the old "he who lives in a glass house shouldnt cast the first ...."

Edited November 25, 2007 by hammered

[blaze]

Meanwhile.... out on the current election's campaign trail.....

People Power Party candidate Chalerm Yubamrung yesterday promised to revive and intensify the war on drugs if the PPP won a mandate to form the next government. In a small rally in Huai Kwang stadium, Chalerm raised the controversial anti-narcotics policy initiated by the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and said the policy would be more ''concentrated'' under the PPP. He denied that deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra had anything to do with extra-judicial killings during the previous drugs war in which some 2,500 people lost their lives. At the same rally, PPP Leader Samak Sundaravej refused to discuss the party's platform, saying only that the party would proceed with the good policies of Thai Rak Thai.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Nov2007_news16.php

This is choice and hypocritical comment coming from the father of a very questionable family and their ethics regarding law and order.

May i suggest he should look inward and put his own house in order as a first priority.

He can thank his lucky stars that the one sided view of Thai politics / law and order that favours the Puyai, while serving a great injustice to the majority of lesser privileged, is in place, otherwise his infamous sons would be at the very least on indefinite jail time and one of them on standby to take a journey into devils territory.

How sick this continual verbal crap is, coming from those who assume the mantle of running as potential candidates in the up and coming elections.

They should of course be speaking out for the changes that need addressing to put Thai society on a fairer and more deserving footing.

Perhaps i might suggest he throw in a name or two of the Puyai drug barons that for some mysterious reason escaped the infamous vendetta of the last government.

Mysterious my armhole, we all know why, and the fact that the policy was initiated for political gain, for the very people among them who are the drug barons and were not in any danger of being exposed or apprehended in the first place.

May they go to hel_l first were they surely have earned the right to go before being allowed to re instate this one sided murderous policy / vendetta and using the weaker citizens of society as pawns in their evil publicity stunts.

marshbags ier by the day and end

It does remind one of the old "he who lives in a glass house shouldnt cast the first ...."

And speaking of glass houses and the like- did anyone notice today who has been selected to spearhead the drive against hitmen in the run up to the election- of the ten cops named- three were key players in the 'war on drugs'.

[Plus]

At first I thought THEY were the target of the new campaign, they have all the credentials of "thugs in uniform".

[sriracha john]

Chalerm and his son Duangchalerm as he finally turned himself in after hiding out for 8 months in order to evade charges of murdering a policeman in a bar.

Associated Press

----------------------------------------------------------

DEFENDING THE WAR ON DRUGS

Chalerm: Hopes to revive policy

Veteran politician Chalerm Yubamrung recently joined the People Power Party (PPP) and is seen as its number two. Over the past month, he has expressed his ambition to become Interior Minister and revive the Thaksin Shinawatra government's controversial war on drugs, which led to the deaths of more than 2,500 people in alleged extra-judicial killings by police. Bangkok Post asked him how he plans to revive the policy. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Do you intend to use the same heavy-handed approach applied by the Thaksin administration?

Drug suppression needs to be handled seriously, the same way the Thaksin administration did. Regarding the extra-judicial killings, people misunderstood that authorities killed innocent people.

Will you set time-frames for achievement like the past government?

We will work based on what the Thaksin government did, and will continue from there. We will declare a new phase of the war on drugs.

Don't you think the implementation of this policy should be conducted in a careful and gradual manner?

Illicit drug suppression cannot be handled gradually. It needs time-frames and targets.

The Thaksin administration set a target for each province to list local dealers. Do you intend to do the same?

It won't be changed.

Interview continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Nov2007_news09.php

============================================================================

Chalerm Yoobamrung's sons have been linked to 12 alleged incidents of brawling, physical assault, shootings, or other incidents at bars and discotheques in a three year period, but have never been punished.

- BBC

Edited November 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[hammered]

Chalerm and his son Duangchalerm as he finally turned himself in after hiding out for 8 months in order to evade charges of murdering a policeman in a bar.

Associated Press

----------------------------------------------------------

DEFENDING THE WAR ON DRUGS

Chalerm: Hopes to revive policy

Veteran politician Chalerm Yubamrung recently joined the People Power Party (PPP) and is seen as its number two. Over the past month, he has expressed his ambition to become Interior Minister and revive the Thaksin Shinawatra government's controversial war on drugs, which led to the deaths of more than 2,500 people in alleged extra-judicial killings by police. Bangkok Post asked him how he plans to revive the policy. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Do you intend to use the same heavy-handed approach applied by the Thaksin administration?

Drug suppression needs to be handled seriously, the same way the Thaksin administration did. Regarding the extra-judicial killings, people misunderstood that authorities killed innocent people.

Will you set time-frames for achievement like the past government?

We will work based on what the Thaksin government did, and will continue from there. We will declare a new phase of the war on drugs.

Don't you think the implementation of this policy should be conducted in a careful and gradual manner?

Illicit drug suppression cannot be handled gradually. It needs time-frames and targets.

The Thaksin administration set a target for each province to list local dealers. Do you intend to do the same?

It won't be changed.

Interview continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Nov2007_news09.php

============================================================================

Chalerm Yoobamrung's sons have been linked to 12 alleged incidents of brawling, physical assault, shootings, or other incidents at bars and discotheques in a three year period, but have never been punished.

- BBC

This is pure insanity. He intends to resurrect the extra judicial killings. Better hope this bunch of lunatics dont win.

[Tony Clifton]

Nothing but a disgusting attempt at trying to minimize the consequences of the messy mistake that was Thaksin's drug war.

What won't they do for The Little Emperor in exile with blood on his hands...

Edited November 27, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

Most of those killed in the war on drugs not involved in drugs

Of 2,500 deaths in the government's war on drugs in 2003, a fact-finding panel has found that more than half were not involved in drugs at all.

At a brainstorming session, a representative from the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Tuesday disclosed that as many as 1,400 people were killed and labelled as drug suspects despite the fact that they had no link to drugs.

"The government drug policy was unclear. Operation staff thus did everything to achieve the goal of reducing the number of drug traffickers. The death toll was highest in February when the policy was first implemented. The number of deaths had lowered in the two following months," the representative said.

Held at the Chao Phya Park Hotel, the session attracted more than 50 judicial officials and academics.

The fact-finding panel worked under the government-appointed committee tasked with analysing the Thaksin Shinawatra-led government's drug policy and its implementation that caused damages to people's lives, property and reputation.

During the war on drugs, police attributed many murder victims to silence killings by fellow drug traffickers. However, the families of the victims were demanding justice saying that the victims were not involved in drug trade.

Senior public prosecutor Kunlapon Ponlawan said it was not difficult to investigate extra-judicial killings carried out by police officers as the trigger-pullers usually confessed.

- The Nation

============================

"Most".....

Edited November 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

The above article was just expanded with these additions.....

Senior public prosecutor Kunlapon Ponlawan said it was not difficult to investigate extra-judicial killings by police officers as the "trigger-pullers" usually confessed.

"But it's difficult to investigate silence-killing cases because of weak evidence. There's no witness," he said.

Department of Special Investigation senior official Piyawat Kingket said yesterday that in one case, a wife saw police officers taking her husband away but she could do nothing about it.

"Her husband has not returned till now and he has been classified as a missing person," he said.

Chulalongkorn University lecturer Jutharat Ua-amnoey said that in order to prevent officials from wrongly implementing drug policies, government mechanisms should be improved to prevent officials from following illegitimate policies.

"We should also clearly stipulate the ethical requirements and responsibility of judicial officials," she said, adding a department should be established to specifically handle drug cases.

The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Investigations revealed that half of slain people on War on Drugs campaign had not relation with narcotics

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) recently formed a committee to investigate extra-judicial killings and issues revolving around the former government’s war on drugs. The committee convened for a meeting that allowed academics and other officials to attend and revealed that some 1,400 of the 2,500 deaths during the crackdown had little or nothing to do with narcotics.

A representative of the ONCB disclosed that because policies during the war were ambiguous as to the definitions of drug related crimes many people may have been mistaken or wrongly labeled.

Prosecutor’s stated that many of the police who participated in the war on drugs aided in the later investigation which has been carried out by the current government.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 November 2007

[hammered]

And from Thailand Outlook TV:

More than Half of Drug War Victims was Innocent

A fact finding committee of the Office of Narcotics Control Board yesterday indicated that more than half of the 2,500 suspects killed in the war on drugs implemented by the Thaksin administration in 2003 were believed to be innocent.

According to the panel’s finding, around 1,400 victims were killed and labeled by the government as drug suspects though they were not involved with the narcotics and the drug trade.

Well I guess technically it should read "all of the drug war victims were innocent" as none of them got a trial. However, I doubt that the various thaksinista groups that proclaim themselves upholders of democracy will be pointing this out. One hopes that Prachathai may give this a mention as it claims to support human rights amongst other things. Of couse the white dove boys are more interested in how many wives a guy has than defending the right of trial or raising the issue of a massacre larger than anything Suchinda managed.

[Plus]

Huh? Hammered going after white doves?

I thought you were always trying to be polite to these people.

[sriracha john]

Canvasser for PPP arrested

Chiang Rai - Police have arrested a local leader, who is reportedly a canvasser for the People Power Party (PPP), for alleged involvement in the possession of methamphetamines. Jankaew Suprakarn, a former kamnan of tambon Pasak of Chiang Saen district in Chiang Rai, was linked to the illegal activity after police arrested his son Boonchuay and other suspects for possessing 240,000 speed pills in 2005. Jankaew was detained under an arrest warrant issued in 2005 after police broadened their investigation into his son's case. He denied the allegation during police interrogation yesterday.

According to a local source, Jankaew, who was previously known as being one of seven influential kamnans in areas near the Thai-Burmese border in Chiang Rai, had served as a key canvasser for many politicians in the North.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Nov2007_news07.php

[hammered]

Huh? Hammered going after white doves?

I thought you were always trying to be polite to these people.

Im no fan of the thaksinistas and their lunatic fringe especially. i think there some good honest people who have got caught uip in the hype and who think Thaksin was osme kind of robin hood or socialist, which of course is misanalysis and i thin there were some good people in TRT although they are probably all now in the new parties as PPP seems stuffed with the worst of all Thai politicos.

White dove are loons obsessed with someones marriage while not caring about thousands of dead is pure idiocy. There is no ther way to describe it.

[Plus]

I thought White Dove was an anti-coup group that had nothing to do with Thaksin or PPP, at least not until DADD rallies.

[Tony Clifton]

White Dove is a nice name, just as nice as the white uniforms the PTV crew wore on their giant billboards.

Another group recently founded had the words human rights or something like that in it's name, obviously using those words to give themselves more credit than they really deserve.

Others campaign and shamelessly wear yellow while breaking electoral laws or committing crimes.

Chameleons.

[sriracha john]

bloody Thaksin

- Drug War Chronicles

Southeast Asia: Most Killed in Thailand's 2003 Drug War Not Involved With Drugs, Panel Finds

An estimated 2,500 people were killed during a three-month crackdown on drugs by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003. Now, one of a half-dozen panels belatedly investigating the killings has reported that as many as 1,400 of those victims were killed and labeled drug suspects despite having no link to drugs.

"The government drug policy was unclear," said a representative of the Office of Narcotics Control Board during a meeting at the Chao Phya Park Hotel in Bangkok. "Operation staff thus did everything to achieve the goal of reducing the number of drug traffickers. The death toll was highest in February when the policy was first implemented. The number of deaths had lowered in the two following months," the representative said, according to an account in The Nation.

Since Thaksin was overthrown in a coup last year, the interim Thai government has moved forward with a review of his government's drug policy and how it was implemented. A complete assessment is expected by year's end.

During Thaksin's drug war, police attributed many of the killings to drug traffickers who were presumably killing their partners to silence them. But the families of many victims protested that their family members had nothing to do with drugs or the drug trade.

Even as the new government investigates Thaksin's drug war, at least one veteran Thai politician is calling for more of the same. Chalerm Yubamrung, viewed as the number two man in the People Power Party and an avowed aspirant to the Interior Ministry position, told the Bangkok Post Tuesday he was prepared to follow Thaksin's bloody path.

"Drug suppression needs to be handled seriously, the same way the Thaksin administration did," Chalerm said in a lengthy interview. "Regarding the extra-judicial killings, people misunderstood that authorities killed innocent people. Instead, it could be that people were killed by their peers to cut the leads for authorities to pursue," he argued, parroting the line of police at the time of the killings.

While Chalerm said small-time dealers and users should be treated as patients, there is an urgent need to suppress the drug trade. "Illicit drug suppression cannot be handled gradually," he said. "It needs time-frames and targets, as well as authorities staying alert. But when there are mistakes and doubts, we need to clear the air promptly. It needs to be strictly, urgently and hastily handled with the provision of special task forces."

When asked point-blank if he had any criticisms of Thaksin's drug war, Chalerm couldn't find any. "There were not any failures," he said. "Some people just accused the then government. There was a high number of killings, but no one knew who carried out the activities."

Chalerm would like to be Thailand's future. Let's hope his embrace of Thaksin's bloody drug war means he has a tin ear when it comes to current Thai attitudes toward that sort of drug policy.

- Drug War Chronicles

[hammered]

I thought White Dove was an anti-coup group that had nothing to do with Thaksin or PPP, at least not until DADD rallies.

from people ive talked to white dove were always the group at the front of attempts to instigate violence at the Daddy marches and gatherings. Whether they were using the Thaksinistas as a vehicle for their own platform or they were being used is moot although according to the Nation:

The final group is called "White Dove 2006 - Reclaiming Democracy", and has Nopharuj Vorachitvuthikul as its leader. He has been worked with the Thaksin regime's network all along. Nopharuj led a rally to support the former PM during his asset concealment case five years ago. He also rallied against the People's Alliance for Democracy, which had moved to oust Thaksin early this year.

[sriracha john]

I thought White Dove was an anti-coup group that had nothing to do with Thaksin or PPP, at least not until DADD rallies.

from people ive talked to white dove were always the group at the front of attempts to instigate violence at the Daddy marches and gatherings. Whether they were using the Thaksinistas as a vehicle for their own platform or they were being used is moot although according to the Nation:

The final group is called "White Dove 2006 - Reclaiming Democracy", and has Nopharuj Vorachitvuthikul as its leader. He has been worked with the Thaksin regime's network all along. Nopharuj led a rally to support the former PM during his asset concealment case five years ago. He also rallied against the People's Alliance for Democracy, which had moved to oust Thaksin early this year.

White Dove Nopharuj in action

Khao Sod newspaper