Bringing Thaksin To Account

[marshbags]

Taken from an article in todays Nation.

PARTIAL QUOTE :-

Bringing the Thaksin regime to account

In the 'war on drugs' in Thailand in 2003, around 3,000 people died with no proper judicial accounting. The National Human Rights Commission has assembled convincing evidence that several victims had no involvement in drug trading. The mechanics of the campaign were lethally simple. Provincial governors and police chiefs were told to eliminate drug trading. Blacklists of names were compiled and success was measured against numerical targets.

UNQUOTE

Go to the following url for the full article which mentions the likes of Saddam Hussein and

Augusto Pinochet in the same article when commenting on leaders who have infamous actions credited against them.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/13...on_30018782.php

Of course the relevant story about Thailand is the topic of the article and goes into detail about certain officials and their involvement.

Again Thaksin as CEO is ultimately responsible for all the actions taken and cannot claim orders where carried out at local levels without his knowledge..

Ultimately they are ALL accountable in varying degrees, with him the figurehead of the atrocities.

On a personal level this article along with some of the statements made by so called humanbeings, makes very disturbing reading, as reports of this nature always do.

marshbags

Edited November 13, 2006 by marshbags

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's words:

"The drug sellers have been ruthless with the Thai people, with our children, so if we are ruthless with them, it is not a big deal. … If drug traders are listening they must make up their minds whether to stop selling or carry on. If they don't stop, there is a chance they will be dealt with in every way, both life and limb. … With the traders, you must use hammer and fist, that is, act decisively and without mercy. Police General Phao Sriyanon once said 'There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do.' So I'm confident that drugs are something that the Thai police can deal with. (Phao was famous for ordering political assassinations.) If some drug traders die, it will be a common thing."

A slight variation:

"The ex-PM has been ruthless with the Thai people, with our children, so if we are ruthless with him, it is not a big deal. … If ex-PM is listening he must make up his mind whether to stop or carry on. If he doesn't stop, there is a chance he will be dealt with in every way, both life and limb.

[ColPyat]

Again Thaksin as CEO is ultimately responsible for all the actions taken and cannot claim orders where carried out at local levels without his knowledge..

Ultimately they are ALL accountable in varying degrees, with him the figurehead of the atrocities.

Small chance that anyone is ever going to court for those human rights violations. Problem is that it is not only Thaksin, but a whole lot of members of the burocracy, the armed forces and police as well, from high ranked to low ranked officers, including members of the present power clique.

The reason that so far nothing at all has been done regarding the human rights violations other than the disappearance of the lawyer should show you that human rights violations under Thaksin played no, or only a miniscule role in why the coup was done.

[sriracha john]

It would appear that not all information regarding what is and what is not being pushed for by the leaders of the present government is being publicized as it happens:

CALL TO RE-EXAMINE DRUG WAR KILLINGS

Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Nakhon Ratchasima senator, has urged the Justice Ministry to re-examine the human rights violations which occurred during the rule of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He said the interim government should attach importance to the cases because the United Nations had submitted 26 questions on them to Thai authorities last year. ''More than 2,000 people died in the extra-judicial killings during the war on drugs launched by the Thaksin government in 2003. It was believed that state officials were also involved in many of the deaths,'' said Mr Kraisak after an hour-long meeting with Justice Permanent Secretary Jarun Pukditanakul. Evidence linking some state officials to the extra-judicial killings has also been submitted to the ministry, he said. Mr Kraisak wants the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take over the job of investigating these cases, which include the killing of a man in Nakhon Ratchasima province who became rich from winning the first-prize lottery but was subsequently shot dead because his name was on the government's list of drug dealers. A source said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont last week ordered Kitti Limchaikij, the newly appointed secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, to dig into the extra-judicial killings of 2,500 people during the Thaksin government's war on drugs that began in February 2003. The prime minister wants a clearer picture of how many deaths actually involved drug dealers and how many did not, the source said. Mr Surayud also wants to know the exact number of cases in which state officials were implicated, said the source.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Nov2006_news12.php

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

It's a long overdue step in the absolutely right direction to examine one of the worst human rights violations in Thailand's history and committed at Thaksin's direction. Thailand, under Thaksin, never responded to the United Nations inquiry mentioned in the article and even worse, Thaksin never responded to the Thai people, those who were brave enough to ask anyway, these same questions.

May the souls of all those murdered find peace and justice.

[jomama]

Thaksin's words:

"...Police General Phao Sriyanon once said 'There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do."

Amazing he who quote Gen. Phao when talking about illegal drugs:

"In the underground struggle for the opium trade, General Phao slowly gained the upper hand. In 1951 a CIA front organization, Sea Supply Corporation, began delivering lavish quantities of naval vessels, arms, armored vehicles, and aircraft to General Phao's police force. With these supplies Phao was able to establish a police air force, a maritime police, a police armored division, and a police paratroop unit. Phao's alliance with the CIA also gave him extensive contacts, through which he was able to build a virtual monopoly on Burmese opium exports.

Phao used his new political power to further strengthen his financial base. He took over the vice rackets, expropriated the profitable Bangkok slaughterhouse, rigged the gold exchange, collected protection money from Bangkok's wealthiest Chinese businessmen, and forced them to appoint him to the boards of over twenty corporations. "

--Alfred W. McCoy , Politics of Herion in Southeast Asia

But then, Thaksin has never ceased to amaze me with his gift for the fax pas and supreme arrogance.

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

.....in some senses this issue is not wildly dissimilar to the recent accusations in the Saddam trial, which were of authorising a killing spree.

To what extent was he protected by executive privilege, or is he responsible.

[Crash999]

Extrajudicial killings aside, the war on drugs worked. Usage plummeted and prices soared. Not sure how many if you were around before and after, but there was a huge difference in terms of the amount of drugs available on the street and in schools.

[younghusband]

It would appear that not all information regarding what is and what is not being pushed for by the leaders of the present government is being publicized as it happens:

CALL TO RE-EXAMINE DRUG WAR KILLINGS

Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Nakhon Ratchasima senator, has urged the Justice Ministry to re-examine the human rights violations which occurred during the rule of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He said the interim government should attach importance to the cases because the United Nations had submitted 26 questions on them to Thai authorities last year. ''More than 2,000 people died in the extra-judicial killings during the war on drugs launched by the Thaksin government in 2003. It was believed that state officials were also involved in many of the deaths,'' said Mr Kraisak after an hour-long meeting with Justice Permanent Secretary Jarun Pukditanakul. Evidence linking some state officials to the extra-judicial killings has also been submitted to the ministry, he said. Mr Kraisak wants the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take over the job of investigating these cases, which include the killing of a man in Nakhon Ratchasima province who became rich from winning the first-prize lottery but was subsequently shot dead because his name was on the government's list of drug dealers. A source said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont last week ordered Kitti Limchaikij, the newly appointed secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, to dig into the extra-judicial killings of 2,500 people during the Thaksin government's war on drugs that began in February 2003. The prime minister wants a clearer picture of how many deaths actually involved drug dealers and how many did not, the source said. Mr Surayud also wants to know the exact number of cases in which state officials were implicated, said the source.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Nov2006_news12.php

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

It's a long overdue step in the absolutely right direction to examine one of the worst human rights violations in Thailand's history and committed at Thaksin's direction. Thailand, under Thaksin, never responded to the United Nations inquiry mentioned in the article and even worse, Thaksin never responded to the Thai people, those who were brave enough to ask anyway, these same questions.

May the souls of all those murdered find peace and justice.

You are right and I largely share your outrage on this issue.The problem is that these crimes were fully supported by the power elite that later turned against Thaksin, and there is plenty of evidence to prove this.That's why this line will never get pursued very vigorously.Same goes for the Tak Bai massacre incidentally.

[alex3fold]

Extrajudicial killings aside, the war on drugs worked. Usage plummeted and prices soared. Not sure how many if you were around before and after, but there was a huge difference in terms of the amount of drugs available on the street and in schools.

How did it work? Drugs are still available, the only people arrested or shot were low level dealers, ex-addicts and throw in some innocent people for good measure.

If Thaksin and his cronies had really cared about the drugs problem then there would have been long term measures to help addicts, arrest the top drug dealers / bosses and implement long term positive anti-drug policies. But what did we get? A complete farce instead.

The whole farce just sums up how Thaksin and most politicians couldn't give a rat's ass about Thailand or Thai people.

[Jai Dee]

Justice Ministry to re-examine 'drug war' killings

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) - Justice Ministry officials are now collecting evidence related to the extra-judicial killings of some 2,500 people during the Thaksin government's war on drugs campaign, said a senior official of the ministry.

Jarun Pukditanakul, Permanent Secretary for Justice, told journalists that concerned officials were now collecting evidence after complaints were lodged and said that he expected that the re-examination process should be completed soon.

Asked whether the decision to re-examine possible human rights violations was adopted after a request by Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Nakhon Ratchasima senator, Mr. Jarun said that Mr. Kraisak only submitted evidence on a former senator who was shot dead in the South.

Mr. Kraisak on Monday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe human rights violations in the three southern provinces --Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. He said the death of former Narathiwat senator Fakruddin Boto was suspicious and may have involved government officials.

Mr. Jarun said the request to re-examine the alleged extra-judicial killings is to be carried out because the issues are being watched by the United Nations and it is necessary for the Thai government to answer the truth.

In 2005, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights sought clarification from the now toppled government of Thaksin Shinawatra about the deaths, saying a report submitted by Thailand was incomplete and posed 26 questions.

It sought information on measures taken by the former government to protect the rights of suspects killed by law-enforcement personnel and investigations on the large number of killings during the "war on drugs" and the results of formal inquiries.

Source: TNA - 14 November 2006

[ColPyat]

Jarun Pukditanakul, Permanent Secretary for Justice, told journalists that concerned officials were now collecting evidence after complaints were lodged and said that he expected that the re-examination process should be completed soon.

Mr. Jarun said the request to re-examine the alleged extra-judicial killings is to be carried out because the issues are being watched by the United Nations and it is necessary for the Thai government to answer the truth.

In 2005, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights sought clarification from the now toppled government of Thaksin Shinawatra about the deaths, saying a report submitted by Thailand was incomplete and posed 26 questions.

The prime minister wants a clearer picture of how many deaths actually involved drug dealers and how many did not, the source said.

All these comments do not convince me that a thorough investigation is planned. How can they possibly imagine that an investigation into such a murky issue as the drugwar killings can be completed soon.

Why on earth is it important how many of the victims were drug dealers and how many not? It was extrajudical killings, and as illegal if the victim was a dealer.

The questions that should be asked are:

"How many victims were silencing killings performed by drug gangs led by higher ranked police officers, and how many were blacklist killings by the death squads?

"Who were the members of the death squads, who commanded them, and how high up went the command structure?

This just sounds to me another halfarsed investigation to pacify the foreign countries, and get yet another uncomfortable issue off the table quickly. At most a few low level heads will roll, and things are straight back to the 'Land of Smile'.

Edited November 14, 2006 by ColPyat

[cclub75]

Yes ! That's the way to go.

But once again : why officials have waited to collect evidence, "after complaints" ?

Why they always like someone has to push them in the back ? Why they look in fine so reluctant to move ?

It should have been the top priority the day after the coup : nail the bastard with his killings.

Anyway, as I said in a previous post, we can not expect a large trial : too many security forces were involved....

Justice Ministry to re-examine 'drug war' killings

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) - Justice Ministry officials are now collecting evidence related to the extra-judicial killings of some 2,500 people during the Thaksin government's war on drugs campaign, said a senior official of the ministry.

Jarun Pukditanakul, Permanent Secretary for Justice, told journalists that concerned officials were now collecting evidence after complaints were lodged and said that he expected that the re-examination process should be completed soon.

Asked whether the decision to re-examine possible human rights violations was adopted after a request by Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Nakhon Ratchasima senator, Mr. Jarun said that Mr. Kraisak only submitted evidence on a former senator who was shot dead in the South.

Mr. Kraisak on Monday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe human rights violations in the three southern provinces --Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. He said the death of former Narathiwat senator Fakruddin Boto was suspicious and may have involved government officials.

Mr. Jarun said the request to re-examine the alleged extra-judicial killings is to be carried out because the issues are being watched by the United Nations and it is necessary for the Thai government to answer the truth.

In 2005, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights sought clarification from the now toppled government of Thaksin Shinawatra about the deaths, saying a report submitted by Thailand was incomplete and posed 26 questions.

It sought information on measures taken by the former government to protect the rights of suspects killed by law-enforcement personnel and investigations on the large number of killings during the "war on drugs" and the results of formal inquiries.

Source: TNA - 14 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

License-to-kill cases proves inefficient to tackle drug problems

The Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry indicated that the past license-to-kill measure used by state officials to terminate narcotics spread has made lawsuits against major drug dealers impossible.

Following an Asia-Pacific conference of narcotics suppression chiefs held at the UN building in Bangkok, Permanent Secretary for Justice Charan Phakdeethanakul (จรัญ ภักดีธนากุล) said the delegates had exchanged opinions on prevention and suppression of drugs. They agreed that official suppression drives must not violate human rights.

As for the license-to-kill measure used by the last government to tackle the drug problem, the permanent secretary said the measure is seen as impractical lesson because the government cannot file any single lawsuit against major drug dealers. Only small traffickers have been arrested.

Kitti Limchaikit (กิตติ ลิ้มชัยกิจ), Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board said that officials will re-open some of the license-to-kill cases. Up to the present time there have been more than 1,000 killing cases, of which authorities do not know the cause.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 November 2006

[marshbags]

Yes ! That's the way to go.

But once again : why officials have waited to collect evidence, "after complaints" ?

Why they always like someone has to push them in the back ? Why they look in fine so reluctant to move ?

It should have been the top priority the day after the coup : nail the bastard with his killings.

Anyway, as I said in a previous post, we can not expect a large trial : too many security forces were involved....

Justice Ministry to re-examine 'drug war' killings

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) - Justice Ministry officials are now collecting evidence related to the extra-judicial killings of some 2,500 people during the Thaksin government's war on drugs campaign, said a senior official of the ministry.

Jarun Pukditanakul, Permanent Secretary for Justice, told journalists that concerned officials were now collecting evidence after complaints were lodged and said that he expected that the re-examination process should be completed soon.

Asked whether the decision to re-examine possible human rights violations was adopted after a request by Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Nakhon Ratchasima senator, Mr. Jarun said that Mr. Kraisak only submitted evidence on a former senator who was shot dead in the South.

Mr. Kraisak on Monday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe human rights violations in the three southern provinces --Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. He said the death of former Narathiwat senator Fakruddin Boto was suspicious and may have involved government officials.

Mr. Jarun said the request to re-examine the alleged extra-judicial killings is to be carried out because the issues are being watched by the United Nations and it is necessary for the Thai government to answer the truth.

In 2005, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights sought clarification from the now toppled government of Thaksin Shinawatra about the deaths, saying a report submitted by Thailand was incomplete and posed 26 questions.

It sought information on measures taken by the former government to protect the rights of suspects killed by law-enforcement personnel and investigations on the large number of killings during the "war on drugs" and the results of formal inquiries.

Source: TNA - 14 November 2006

Slowly the list is being ticked off and the news regarding the extra judicial killings ( murders ) is very good news for all the victims and their families who have cried out and begged for this to happen.

From a human rights point of view i am very happy this action has been started and feel for the innocent people who were murdered in the phoney name of justice as has happened in this evil crime.

There are so many questionable situations and this government are not dragging their feet as it would appear.

They are shrewd enough to know that the priority in all cases is to make sure there is a chance of success and that enquiries do not get thrown out due to lack of some kind of information to prevent the lawyers and laws as they exist being minipulated to the advantage of the offenders

In my humble opinion of course.

Let,s all be patient, bear this in mind and give the authorities a chance as we all know there is so much to investigate going back 5 years and it cannot be dealt with overnight.

To all you who are looking for pathetic excuses to find fault in the progress lets examine the big picture in the future when this intrim government have had a fair crack at doing the job and sorted through the mountains of hidden evidence.

marshbags

P.S.

How anyone can say the war on drugs worked is beyond my comprehension as all the main dealers were kept active and given the cover of their involvement to carry on at the expense of these tragic individuals.

That,s why they must endeavour to get these Evil Bastards and keep digging until they are brought to justice.

Edited November 14, 2006 by marshbags

[cclub75]

As for the license-to-kill measure used by the last government to tackle the drug problem, the permanent secretary said the measure is seen as impractical lesson because the government cannot file any single lawsuit against major drug dealers. Only small traffickers have been arrested.

Oh my Lord...

How an official can speak like that ?

He seems to think that the extra killing were a bad solution, because they were... inefficient !! ! Not because they were against the law and human rights !

They will never change.

[Siripon]

It's a fact that the vast majority of Thais of all social classes supported the drug war killings, one reason being they could see no way the dealers could be brought to justice through the courts, what with intimidation and police protection in some cases.

Methamphetamines were rampant a few years ago.

But if the government is able to show the killings were premeditated by the authorities pressurising the local governors and police, based on error-prone lists with a considerable loss of innocent lives, then I think many Thai people will consider it licensed murder from the top.

A police state.

For Khun Surayut to tackle that is a tall order in one year but it's better than doing nothing.

I remember when Thaksin came to power and he said in an aside that the Thammasart clique (ie Chuan Leekpai) had had their turn, now it was the time of the police.

Well, now it's the time of the army again.

[Plus]

They will never change.

Probably not, but if you look beyond the complexity of the socio-economic situation, you'll see that some groups have more respect for human lives (forget rights for a moment - just lives), and are more open to change than others.

[sriracha john]

Mr Thaksin's war on drugs drew much criticism from human rights groups

BBC

Thailand investigates drugs war

The military-backed government in Thailand is probing the anti-drugs campaign launched by the ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The campaign, between 2003 and 2004, led to the deaths of more than 2,500 people.

The UN has previously expressed concern about the campaign, amid claims of extra-judicial killings by police.

Mr Thaksin's government said the deaths were largely the result of violence among drug gangs.

According to the Thai News Agency (TNA) website, Jarun Pukdithanakul, Permanent Secretary for Justice, told reporters that officials were now collecting evidence after complaints were lodged.

He called on the relatives of those who died to come forward with evidence.

Announcing the offensive against the drugs trade, Mr Shinawatra, said brutal measures were needed, because drug dealers and traffickers would destroy the nation if left unchecked.

But the methods of the campaign sparked criticism from human rights groups in Thailand and abroad.

Thai police and security forces were accused of murdering drugs suspects, but the government maintained that most of those who died were murdered because of gang rivalries, or were killed in self-defence.

- BBC

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

Thai Justice Ministry to probe controversial ‘drug war’ killings

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand’s Justice Ministry will probe the deaths of some 2,500 people in suspicious circumstances during a controversial war on drugs carried out three years ago under ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Thai and foreign human rights groups have long claimed that many, if not most, of the deaths were the result of extrajudicial killings carried out by police and other security personnel.

Thaksin’s government, ousted by a coup d’etat two months ago, claimed the killings were carried out by drug gangs trying to silence informers during an intensive government crackdown on the illicit drug trade. Yet few if any suspects were tried or convicted for the murders.

From the information we have gathered, no one has been prosecuted for these killings,’ said Justice Ministry Permanent Secretary Jaran Pakdithanakul, who announced that the deaths would be investigated by the interim government installed after the coup.

This is a big mistake that we should learn from the past: no single major drug dealer was killed, these people are only small fish,’ he told reporters.

Thaksin was deposed in a Sep. 19 coup after the military said the country’s stability was jeopardized by political polarization. Critics of Thaksin had campaigned since the beginning of the year for his ouster, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

Human rights advocate have also sought to have his drug war investigated because of the alleged injustices involved. They have also charged that extrajudicial killings were carried out in southern Thailand as part of the former government’s efforts to curb a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand.

- Associated Press

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

Thai PM orders probe of Thaksin's war on drugs

BANGKOK - Thailand's post-coup government has ordered an investigation into ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's war on drugs in which more than 2,500 people were killed, officials said on Tuesday.

The probe into the two-year crackdown, which outraged human rights groups, was ordered by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, installed by the military after Thaksin was ousted in a Sept. 19 coup, they said.

The Justice Ministry would conduct the investigation into deaths Thaksin's government said were largely the result of drug dealers killing each other but which rights groups said were extra-judicial killings by police.

The ministry's top civil servant called on relatives of the victims to come forward with evidence.

"We have been requested to start the probe, but how far we can go depends on our potential," Jaran Pukdithanakul told reporters.

"I now call on families of those victims to come to us with evidence," he said.

Thaksin, now living in exile in London, launched a war on drugs in 2003.

Thaksin's war on drugs cut supply and pushed up prices for a while, but business returned to normal, anti-drug agencies say.

*Thaksin stupidly declared the entire country was drug-free in 2004.*

Other investigations have started into allegations of corruption during Thaksin's years of power.

- Reuters

[Pak Chong]

Thaksin's words:

"...Police General Phao Sriyanon once said 'There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do."

Amazing he who quote Gen. Phao when talking about illegal drugs:

"In the underground struggle for the opium trade, General Phao slowly gained the upper hand. In 1951 a CIA front organization, Sea Supply Corporation, began delivering lavish quantities of naval vessels, arms, armored vehicles, and aircraft to General Phao's police force. With these supplies Phao was able to establish a police air force, a maritime police, a police armored division, and a police paratroop unit. Phao's alliance with the CIA also gave him extensive contacts, through which he was able to build a virtual monopoly on Burmese opium exports.

Phao used his new political power to further strengthen his financial base. He took over the vice rackets, expropriated the profitable Bangkok slaughterhouse, rigged the gold exchange, collected protection money from Bangkok's wealthiest Chinese businessmen, and forced them to appoint him to the boards of over twenty corporations. "

--Alfred W. McCoy , Politics of Herion in Southeast Asia

But then, Thaksin has never ceased to amaze me with his gift for the fax pas and supreme arrogance.

That Thaksin would quote an illustrious predecessor like Phao is the icing on the cake. This guy made Heinrich Himmler look like Albert Schweitzer. Allegations have also implicated him in Thailands most infamous crime.

[Jai Dee]

Families of the slain urged to seek justice

Authorities vow to review any 'clear evidence' innocent people were killed

The Justice Ministry yesterday urged relatives of the more than 2,500 people slain during the Thaksin Shinawatra government's "war on drugs" in early 2003 to seek justice in a re-examination of the highly controversial campaign.

The ministry promised that if evidence of crime led to the ousted premier, it would ensure that legal punishment was meted out.

Permanent secretary for Justice Charan Phakdithanakul said that officials attending yesterday's 30th meeting of drug law enforcement agencies from Asia and the Pacific had asked about killings of the 2,500-plus alleged drug dealers.

The Thai government replied that it stood firm on its drug crackdown with respect to human rights, he said. Officials also cited the Royal project that encouraged hill-tribe people grow crops instead of opium.

Prior to the meeting, which runs until Friday at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Charan said Justice officials had been gathering information about the alleged extrajudicial killings and a review of the government campaign should be completed soon.

He said the review was needed because the United Nations was looking at the issue and the government had a duty to tell the truth.

Asked if the legal process would reach all the way up to the former prime minister or his government, Charan said it depended on what evidence was presented. Officials would follow new information to wherever it led.

Charan mentioned his previous meeting with former Nakhon Ratchasima senator Kraisak Choonhavan, who brought evidence of a couple being killed despite having no history of drug dealing. That inquiry ended with no one being punished.

Kraisak said the two had won first prize in a lottery but kept their win a secret. But people became suspicious about where their sudden wealth came from.

As for other similar cases, the ministry admitted it would not be possible to re-examine all 2,500 deaths, so would only check those cases with clear evidence that those killed were innocent.

The ministry would start with cases filed by relatives of those killed, Charan said.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) would be the major database for records on those killed, while the Department of Special Investigation would re-investigate the slayings.

ONCB secretary-general Kitti Limchaikij said his agency had found that officials had ended inquiries into 1,600 to 1,700 of the 2,500 deaths, saying there was no evidence pointing to any culprits. The rest, he said, were general criminal cases that may not have been involved with the drug-related murders from February to May in 2003.

Kitti said relatives of the dead should file appeals for justice because there was no law that authorised such killings.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commissioner Wasan Panich urged the new government to apologise to relatives of those killed in the "war on drugs".

Wasan said relatives of up to 50 people had filed complaints with the NHRC, which had found that all were innocent people who had been blacklisted despite no evidence to indicate their involvement in drug dealing.

In many cases, he said drugs were later planted on the bodies.

"The relatives are angry because innocent family members were cruelly killed and their property unjustly seized."

He urged the government to look into the killings regardless of the one-year statute of limitations.

The blacklist compiled in January 2003 and used by police and other state agencies to carry out the anti-drugs campaign was drawn up improperly, with names gathered in communities in which personal conflicts abounded, he said.

This gave people with a grudge the opportunity to give the names of those they had a problem with, he said.

The list included the names of drug suspects' relatives who had nothing to do with the trade, of suspects already cleared by the courts, of those in conflict with government officials, of those who had suddenly become rich and were automatically assumed to deal in drugs, he said.

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

Data on 'police killings'

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) deputy spokesman Poramet Intharachumnum yesterday suggested police should handle the re-examination of the alleged extrajudicial drug killings because they had more information.

Poramet also revealed police-related statistics from 2003 to November 13, 2006.

In 2003, there were 161 cases of suspects dying while in police custody or from extrajudicial killings, with two of the cases being taken to court, 140 dismissed and 19 returned to police investigators.

In 2004, there were 196 cases, of which two went to court, 157 were dismissed and 37 returned to investigators.

In 2005, 132 cases were reported. One case reached the court, 107 were dismissed and 24 returned for investigation.

In 2006, there have been 90 cases, two of which were taken to court, 44 dismissed and 10 returned to investigators because of incomplete evidence. The other 34 cases were still be considered by the OAG, Poramet said.

Source: The Nation - 15 November 2006

[Losangels]

Rumour that Taksin has a personal vengence for the drug dealers was the fact that his son is/was addicted to drugs

[ColPyat]

That Thaksin would quote an illustrious predecessor like Phao is the icing on the cake. This guy made Heinrich Himmler look like Albert Schweitzer. Allegations have also implicated him in Thailands most infamous crime.

Excuse me, but this statement is complete rubbish, utter lunacy.

Phao was a nasty and corrupt police general in a banana republic, but there simply is no comparism with Himmler, who was the main architect of the Holocaust that cost millions of people their lives.

[ovenman]

Excuse me, but this statement is complete rubbish, utter lunacy.

The concept of practicing what one preaches suddenly springs to mind: Keeping it polite

[jomama]

Excuse me, but this statement is complete rubbish, utter lunacy.

Phao was a nasty and corrupt police general in a banana republic, but there simply is no comparism with Himmler, who was the main architect of the Holocaust that cost millions of people their lives.

Himmler was not the main architect of the Holocaust, just perhaps one of its most dedicated bureaucrats.

It appears that Gen. Phao had the same level of regard (absolute zero) for human life ... and he did it solely for money. Which, is it possible to say, is a more repugnant criminal?

And the point is: To quote him (perhaps the greatest drug dealer in Thai history) when justifying assassination as a means to STOP drug dealing beggars belief in any form of logic.

...but then that never stoped Thaksin

Edited November 15, 2006 by jomama

[Francis Maube]

Thaksin's words:

"...Police General Phao Sriyanon once said 'There is nothing under the sun that the Thai police cannot do."

Amazing he who quote Gen. Phao when talking about illegal drugs:

"In the underground struggle for the opium trade, General Phao slowly gained the upper hand. In 1951 a CIA front organization, Sea Supply Corporation, began delivering lavish quantities of naval vessels, arms, armored vehicles, and aircraft to General Phao's police force. With these supplies Phao was able to establish a police air force, a maritime police, a police armored division, and a police paratroop unit. Phao's alliance with the CIA also gave him extensive contacts, through which he was able to build a virtual monopoly on Burmese opium exports.

Phao used his new political power to further strengthen his financial base. He took over the vice rackets, expropriated the profitable Bangkok slaughterhouse, rigged the gold exchange, collected protection money from Bangkok's wealthiest Chinese businessmen, and forced them to appoint him to the boards of over twenty corporations. "

--Alfred W. McCoy , Politics of Herion in Southeast Asia

But then, Thaksin has never ceased to amaze me with his gift for the fax pas and supreme arrogance.

Glad to meet someone that read that excellent book. Recommended reading to anyone hanging around south east asia and in particular the french and the american.

I heard McCoy published a sequel a few years ago but have not been able to lay my hands on it. Have you eard anything about it?

[kmart]

Thailand has never seemed to have a problem with murdering people. Behind the phony smiles and lip-service to Buddhism, life here is very cheap indeed if you have the misfortune to be in the way of someone's business interests or other plans.

Recent history; the student killings in '73 and '76; the cold-blooded shootings of protestors on Bangkok streets in '92; etc. Authorities here are as brutal and cold-blooded as anywhere in the world. Wonder how many people "disappeared" during the Communist witch-hunt years? Journalists and environmental activists are bumped off pretty regularly here too.

The "drug dealers" were just the tip of the iceberg.

[Briggsy]

Rumour that Taksin has a personal vengence for the drug dealers was the fact that his son is/was addicted to drugs

Rumour also has it that Panthongthae did not complete his education in Singapore as he failed a mandatory drugs test. Ramkhamhaeng was not so picky. Old Thakkers not only got his own back on the drug dealers but also on Singapore too!

[lukamar]

Thailand investigates drugs war

The military-backed government in Thailand is probing the anti-drugs campaign launched by the ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

They may Huff and Puff and point some fingers but they certainly won't blow that house down as there are too many of them in there along with the one they are pointing the finger at.

[makavelithedon]

Apologies if this is slighter wider a post than just the drugs issue. I don't follow it as closely as some here, so perhaps a few could post in regard the current state of investigations that were said to be underway in regards alleged corrupt leadership especially the backhanders and company dealings?

I read in another topic that he is not welcome back at present which (tone wise) I find incredible. One would presume the only thing that was going to be issued in regard this man was an international arrest warrant and extradition process if necessary! Where by he would be tried and sentenced to life.

It seems to show just how ridiculous this country is. They discuss him being refused re-entry like a naughty little tourist thrown out for being drunk and disorderly forgetting anything in regard why he was apparently removed in the first place- the endless number of broken laws in every area of government known to man!

Is it as simple as the military and investigations unit just still building a case?

Edited November 16, 2006 by makavelithedon

[Briggsy]

Thailand has never seemed to have a problem with murdering people. Behind the phony smiles and lip-service to Buddhism, life here is very cheap indeed if you have the misfortune to be in the way of someone's business interests or other plans.

Recent history; the student killings in '73 and '76; the cold-blooded shootings of protestors on Bangkok streets in '92; etc. Authorities here are as brutal and cold-blooded as anywhere in the world. Wonder how many people "disappeared" during the Communist witch-hunt years? Journalists and environmental activists are bumped off pretty regularly here too.

The "drug dealers" were just the tip of the iceberg.

Absolutely. Many foreigners here are not aware of this. The UK and Thailand have very similar population size. In the UK there are about 800 murders per year and in Thailand there are about 5000 reported murders per year. Add to that figure the ones classed as suicide or accidents by the police and the bodies that are never found in remote areas and the figure could easily be over 10,000.