Thai Elections Revive Drug War Controversy

[Buchholz]

Normal default font and font size restored:

It was executed under the auspices of the military high command with the support of the privy council. The reality in Thailand is that the civilian government has no control over the military.

So it was the military and Privy Council's fault that Thaksin initiated, supervised, modified, and finalized his War on Drugs to the point of personally claiming credit for the complete eradication of drugs in Thailand.

Interesting perspective.

Politicians usually do take credit for events if they seem successful. Former President Bush made an error similar to formerr PM Thaksin when Mr, Bush stood on the aircraft carrier in May 2003 under a banner that read Mission Accomplished. As you know, the problems in Iraq continued.

In respect to your cute attempt to twist my comment out of context, your assertion that former PM Thaksin initiated, supervised, modified, and finalized his War on Drugs is incorrect. The strategy was already in place. The planning had started in 2000 following the inspection tours by the military commanders. They were shocked and concerned by what they had seen and learned. Yes, Mr. Thaksin had some input into the initiative, but for all intents and purposes the effectiveness of the campaign relied upon the Third Army and special forces deployment as well as the RTP efforts. Despite the unfortunate loss of civilian life, they did succeed in their goal of securing the region. Thailand had not encountered such a potent and insidious threat before, not even from the communist insurgents.

Unfortunately for your assertion it was the military and the Privy Council who were responsible for Thaksin's Drug War, there is a veritable avalanche of local and international press releases, Human Rights Watch reports, Thailand Human Rights Commission findings, etc. etc. etc. that squarely put the initiation and supervision of Thaksin's Drug War on, strangely enough, Thaksin's shoulders.

Dismissive talk of "strategies" started by others is misplaced, for without Thaksin, then Thaksin's Drug War would not have developed as it did.

This has all been thoroughly documented in countless reports and I imagine thousands of posts and articles. Do you really expect members to discount all of that and instead buy into your lone voice that it was the Privy Council and the military responsible for Thaksin's Drug War?

.

Edited June 25, 2011 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Rights groups recognise at least 27 such cases in Kalasin that implicate police during Thaksin's premiership, and Sunai said there could be many more that have not come to light because of "ingrained impunity".

Only one of these cases has reached court: Six policemen have been charged with the premeditated murder of a 17-year-old found hanging in July 2004, several days after his arrest for stealing a motorbike.

His aunt Pikul Phromchan, an activist seeking justice in the Kalasin deaths, lives in fear for her life under witness protection while the case drags on

the case against these policemen has just concluded...

Police guilty of murdering youth, 17

The Criminal Court Monday handed down a guilty verdict to five former Kalasin-based policemen for their involvement in the extrajudicial killing of a 17-year-old boy in 2004.

Three of them were sentenced to death, another to life imprisonment, and the other to seven years in jail.

The death sentence was meted out against three police Senior Sergeant-Majors Angkarn Kammoonna, Sudtinan Noanting and Pansin Uppana. They are 48, 43, and 42 years old respectively. They were also found guilty of trying to cover up their crime.

Pol Lt Colonel Sumit Nansatit, who was serving as Deputy Superintendent of Muang Kalasin station at the time of the murder, was convicted of collaborating in the premeditated murder.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

His supervisor Pol Colonel Montri Sriboonleu, the former Superintendent of Muang Kalasin Police, was found guilty of trying to help his subordinates escape the reach of the law.

He was ordered to serve a seven-year jail term.

-- The Nation 2012-07-30

[Buchholz]

The six policeman in the above case, another Senior Sargent-Major, was acquitted of all charges.

Still, for a Police Colonel, a Police Lieutenant-Colonel, and three Police Senior Sergeant-Majors to all be found guilty (and for 4 to be found guilty of murder) has to be a milestone of some sort.

.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

* moved to new thread

Thai Police Get Death Penalty In Drug War Killing

http://www.thaivisa....g/#entry5531423

Edited July 30, 2012 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

Thai police get death penalty in drug war killing

BANGKOK -- A court has sentenced three police officers to death for killing a teenager during a much-criticized drug crackdown by Thailand's government eight years ago. The officers were found guilty Monday of killing a 17-year-old student in Kalasin province in the northeast and moving his body to conceal the cause of death.

The killing took place under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, which declared a crackdown on the drug trade to stem an influx of methamphetamine. Rights activists allege it resulted in more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings.

The Criminal Court also sentenced a former deputy police district commander to life in prison for the boy's murder. The former district commander was given a seven-year jail term for abuse of authority. One police officer was acquitted.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascit...l#storylink=cpy

Associated Press - ‎29 minutes ago

.

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

Edited July 30, 2012 by phiphidon

[Moruya]

Thai police get death penalty in drug war killing

BANGKOK -- A court has sentenced three police officers to death for killing a teenager during a much-criticized drug crackdown by Thailand's government eight years ago. The officers were found guilty Monday of killing a 17-year-old student in Kalasin province in the northeast and moving his body to conceal the cause of death.

The killing took place under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, which declared a crackdown on the drug trade to stem an influx of methamphetamine. Rights activists allege it resulted in more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings.

The Criminal Court also sentenced a former deputy police district commander to life in prison for the boy's murder. The former district commander was given a seven-year jail term for abuse of authority. One police officer was acquitted.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascit...l#storylink=cpy

Associated Press - ‎29 minutes ago

.

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

And if it were reported in the Oxfordshire News back in the '80s that Aphisit once failed to clean up after a big Mac, it would be copied and pasted into every news thread you could get your fingers into

[Reasonableman]

Thai police get death penalty in drug war killing

BANGKOK -- A court has sentenced three police officers to death for killing a teenager during a much-criticized drug crackdown by Thailand's government eight years ago. The officers were found guilty Monday of killing a 17-year-old student in Kalasin province in the northeast and moving his body to conceal the cause of death.

The killing took place under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, which declared a crackdown on the drug trade to stem an influx of methamphetamine. Rights activists allege it resulted in more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings.

The Criminal Court also sentenced a former deputy police district commander to life in prison for the boy's murder. The former district commander was given a seven-year jail term for abuse of authority. One police officer was acquitted.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascit...l#storylink=cpy

Associated Press - ‎29 minutes ago

.

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

What a surprise that you attempt to dismiss and trivialise this story. You could condemn the extrajudicial killing and comment that justice was finally done and this case was cleared up. Or you could empathise with the relatives and friends of the murdered kid. Or express regret that the kid was murdered. But no, none of that's on the agenda because it could open an 8-year old can of worms you'd like to keep firmly shut, for reasons best known to yourself. Your comments on this case are below contempt and outrageous.

[Buchholz]

* moved to new thread

Thai Police Get Death Penalty In Drug War Killing

http://www.thaivisa....g/#entry5531423

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

I realize you struggle to understand how the news media system works, but perhaps following the new thread might better help you understand it.

2,500 non judicial slayings.... 3 cops sentenced to death in one of them... not exactly every day news

.

[Buchholz]

* moved to new thread

Thai Police Get Death Penalty In Drug War Killing

http://www.thaivisa....g/#entry5531423

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

What a surprise that you attempt to dismiss and trivialise this story. You could condemn the extrajudicial killing and comment that justice was finally done and this case was cleared up. Or you could empathise with the relatives and friends of the murdered kid. Or express regret that the kid was murdered. But no, none of that's on the agenda

that's the way he goes about things

[tlansford]

Thai police get death penalty in drug war killing

BANGKOK -- A court has sentenced three police officers to death for killing a teenager during a much-criticized drug crackdown by Thailand's government eight years ago. The officers were found guilty Monday of killing a 17-year-old student in Kalasin province in the northeast and moving his body to conceal the cause of death.

The killing took place under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, which declared a crackdown on the drug trade to stem an influx of methamphetamine. Rights activists allege it resulted in more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings.

The Criminal Court also sentenced a former deputy police district commander to life in prison for the boy's murder. The former district commander was given a seven-year jail term for abuse of authority. One police officer was acquitted.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascit...l#storylink=cpy

Associated Press - ‎29 minutes ago

.

Obviously a quiet news day in the Kansas City Star. Seriously, why is an american paper interested in a thai drug death story from 8 years ago? And then I saw the AP tag - it was a slow news day in the Kansas City Star. I eagerly look forward to their take on the "transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom". Do post the link when you see it Buchholz............

Thread CPR... good for traffic

[Reasonableman]

Red herrings, no longer good for obfuscation, old boy.

[Mosha]

Earlier in this thread. Thaksin's war on drugs was to run for 3 months. So that's where Chalerm's fascination with curing every problem in 90 days comes from

[jayboy]

But no, none of that's on the agenda because it could open an 8-year old can of worms you'd like to keep firmly shut, for reasons best known to yourself. Your comments on this case are below contempt and outrageous.

I don't think that there are many in the Thai power structure (yes that includes the military, Privy Council and other amart elements) who want to re-open an 8 year old can of worms to use your expression, not least because of those who were directly implicated and those who gave strong support (albeit qualified on occasion).The rhetoric was at its most heated when it seemed a useful way of attacking Thaksin but there was never any serious expectation it would be followed up.These people would have no objection to a few low level participants being prosecuted but their positions will never be scrutinised openly.None of this obscures the fact that Thaksin bears prime responsibility but spare us the hypocrisy of suggesting the policy didn't have high level support in all quarters.

[apetley]

I was in Thailand during the war on drugs.

One day I was travelling home late at night on a small rural road.

We rounded a corner and there was an unmarked pickup full of guys waving torches.

I stopped when I saw several of them were pointing what appeared to be assault rifles directly at me.

One of them came to my door still pointing a gun at me.

I lowered my window and it was then he recognised my wife who used to work in the local police station. They were all local police.

Guns were lowered and we were told they were out looking for drug dealers to shoot.

Almost to a man they appeared drunk.

The next day a teenager was found shot to death in the town market.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited July 31, 2012 by apetley

[Reasonableman]

But no, none of that's on the agenda because it could open an 8-year old can of worms you'd like to keep firmly shut, for reasons best known to yourself. Your comments on this case are below contempt and outrageous.

I don't think that there are many in the Thai power structure (yes that includes the military, Privy Council and other amart elements) who want to re-open an 8 year old can of worms to use your expression, not least because of those who were directly implicated and those who gave strong support (albeit qualified on occasion).The rhetoric was at its most heated when it seemed a useful way of attacking Thaksin but there was never any serious expectation it would be followed up.These people would have no objection to a few low level participants being prosecuted but their positions will never be scrutinised openly.None of this obscures the fact that Thaksin bears prime responsibility but spare us the hypocrisy of suggesting the policy didn't have high level support in all quarters.

Hypocrisy is pointing the finger at others to avert responsibility for one's own actions.

Another hypocrisy is trying to bury or denigrate the truth because it doesn't suit one's agenda.

[jayboy]

But no, none of that's on the agenda because it could open an 8-year old can of worms you'd like to keep firmly shut, for reasons best known to yourself. Your comments on this case are below contempt and outrageous.

I don't think that there are many in the Thai power structure (yes that includes the military, Privy Council and other amart elements) who want to re-open an 8 year old can of worms to use your expression, not least because of those who were directly implicated and those who gave strong support (albeit qualified on occasion).The rhetoric was at its most heated when it seemed a useful way of attacking Thaksin but there was never any serious expectation it would be followed up.These people would have no objection to a few low level participants being prosecuted but their positions will never be scrutinised openly.None of this obscures the fact that Thaksin bears prime responsibility but spare us the hypocrisy of suggesting the policy didn't have high level support in all quarters.

Hypocrisy is pointing the finger at others to avert responsibility for one's own actions.

Another hypocrisy is trying to bury or denigrate the truth because it doesn't suit one's agenda.

Sorry your "definitions" don't make any sense.If you don't like uncomfortable truths being exposed I suggest you come up with some intelligent counter arguments instead of making up "definitions"

I think in any event most people know hypocrisy when they see it.In the case of the drugs war you might have a reasonable case if powerful people including Thaksin were prosecuted, and the supporting rhetoric of some of the highest in the land was publicised.