Bringing Thaksin To Account

[A_Traveller]

Beat me to it, though I wondered if the link should also be added to the Pai thread as well.

Regards

[marshbags]

Beat me to it, though I wondered if the link should also be added to the Pai thread as well.

Regards

Regards again reciprocated A.T.

I,m sure you mean well.

marshbags

[marshbags]

The Nation, Breaking news, February 9, 2008 : Last updated 05:28 pm

Law Society warns Chalerm not to use summary executions in war on drug

A member of the Law Society of Thailand Friday warned Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung not to resort to summary executions in his new war on drug.

Somchai Homlaor, chairman of the human rights committee of the Law Society of Thailand, said it was good that Chalerm declared to tackle the problems of drug trade within 90 days.

But he said Chalerm should not make the same mistakes with the Thaksin government's war-on-drug campaign which saw over 2,500 people killed.

Somchai said if Chalerm repeats the same mistake, people would take to street to oust him from the office.

The Nation

We can only hope his threats and intentions as stated personally by him are not given the slightest chance of starting up again, as per Toxin and Co.

marshbags

[sriracha john]

Monsters Retake Thailand's Government and Vow to Resume Mass Drug War Murders

We've reported here extensively on the thousands of extra-judicial killings by Thailand police of supposed drug offenders during the regime of now-deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Following the coup which took Thaksin out of power, a government panel prompted by calls from human rights organizations determined that most of Thaksin's murder victims were not even involved with drugs.

Recently the Thai government voted to bring the monsters back into power by electing Thaksin crony Samak Sundaravej as the new prime minister. He has already shown his stripes -- reporting from the Associated Press:

New Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted Friday that he is not a puppet of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra, despite having boasted during campaigning that he was Thaksin's proxy. [...] Samak also said the new government will reintroduce Thaksin's controversial approach to combatting drug trafficking, defending the "drug war" conducted by Thaksin's government that led to the death of about 2,500 people in 2003-2004. [...] Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said Thursday that the ministry would launch a tough anti-drug campaign, particularly in border areas, that will yield results within 90 days.

How many drug war murders will Sundaravej commit? Have some Thai police officers already taken the encouragement to resume the rampage?

- Stop The Drug War Chronicles

[sriracha john]

UPDATE..... it's NOT over yet, marshbags....

UNITED NATIONS

Government asked to reopen inquiry into 'Drug War'

The Samak government has been urged by the United Nations to reopen the investigation into extra-judicial killings during the 'War on Drugs' and take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Homayoun Alizadeh, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Representative for Southeast Asia, said he would forward the request to the government ASAP. "An independent committee [under former Attorney-General Khanit Na Nakhon] has concluded its report on the extra-judicial killings which caused more than 2,500 lives to be lost, and the public should know to what extent any officials and at what levels were involved, and how to ensure this will not happen again," Mr Alizadeh said. He said the law should be strictly enforced and such ''dark stories'' should be investigated seriously. The Khanit panel last week released a report which found no evidence linking senior figures to the killings. The panel, which worked for five months, conceded that its work was not yet complete as the tenure of the Surayud government had come to an end. It said it needed at least a year to conduct a thorough inquiry. According to the report, 2,873 people were killed in 2,604 separate cases between February and April of 2003. Of those killed, around 1,370 were related to alleged drug dealing. The panel also found that drug-related murder cases increased by about 80%, after the war on drugs launched by the Thaksin government. This, it said, showed that the Thaksin government focused on quantitative results. The panel said it had yet to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Feb2008_news04.php

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

Good on the United Nations... Don't let this be dropped....

[younghusband]

UPDATE..... it's NOT over yet, marshbags....

UNITED NATIONS

Government asked to reopen inquiry into 'Drug War'

The Samak government has been urged by the United Nations to reopen the investigation into extra-judicial killings during the 'War on Drugs' and take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Homayoun Alizadeh, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Representative for Southeast Asia, said he would forward the request to the government ASAP. "An independent committee [under former Attorney-General Khanit Na Nakhon] has concluded its report on the extra-judicial killings which caused more than 2,500 lives to be lost, and the public should know to what extent any officials and at what levels were involved, and how to ensure this will not happen again," Mr Alizadeh said. He said the law should be strictly enforced and such ''dark stories'' should be investigated seriously. The Khanit panel last week released a report which found no evidence linking senior figures to the killings. The panel, which worked for five months, conceded that its work was not yet complete as the tenure of the Surayud government had come to an end. It said it needed at least a year to conduct a thorough inquiry. According to the report, 2,873 people were killed in 2,604 separate cases between February and April of 2003. Of those killed, around 1,370 were related to alleged drug dealing. The panel also found that drug-related murder cases increased by about 80%, after the war on drugs launched by the Thaksin government. This, it said, showed that the Thaksin government focused on quantitative results. The panel said it had yet to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Feb2008_news04.php

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

Good on the United Nations... Don't let this be dropped....

While this is the right response from the UN Human Rights official, one can hardly be encouraged by the recent report of the Khanit panel effectively letting the instigators off the hook.What is needed is pressure from Thai civil society -and in my view in practice that means active involvement of highly educated and well respected national figures.If say someone like Khun Anand Panyarachun took up the cudgels there would be much more likelihood of success.

The problem in this whole sad story is that the investigation has been overshadowed by the battle of certain interests -and at the micro level by some on this forum- to demonise and the destroy Thaksin whereas what was needed was a cool forensic approach , unclouded by political considerations, and supported by the great and the good.Given recent events what little political steam has evaporated and Samak has of course even less reason to follow up than Surayud .Anand type support would have introduced some real impetus into the investigation against a background of almost nil interest (to put it at its most charitable) by most Thais and the reality that at the time the campaign had the support of very powerful sectors in addition to the political leadership.

[ando]

I think the UN might have missed the boat there.

Thailand has already had an independent inquiry into the so called "war on drugs" while under military rule eager to get some goods on Thaksin.

And no evidence of illegal activity was found to implicate either politicians or police.

And we all know the Thai judicial system wouldn't cover anything up for political purposes.

Jai Dee

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Find Member's Posts 2008-01-16 08:02:07 Post #1008

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From: Amphur Sattahip

Member No.: 15,398

'War on Drugs' probe draws a blank

An independent committee probing drug-related killings during the first Thaksin Shinawatra government has found no concrete evidence linking senior figures with the murders, a Justice Ministry source said yesterday.

After five months of inquiries, the panel, led by former attorney general Khanit na Nakhon, has obtained only statistical details about the number and nature of the murders.

But no conclusion that would implicate police or Thaksin as the instigator of the shoot-to-kill policy has been reached.

The panel's report will be submitted to the Cabinet today. It's main content is facts and government records showing how Thaksin's order was carried out from top to bottom through the bureaucracy.

One of the most potent pieces of evidence is that an anti-narcotics centre under the Interior Ministry was ordered to issue a blacklist naming drug dealers and users nationwide, as well as an appraisal measure to show a "decline" in the number of people blacklisted.

But the report contained no conclusion that may subject an individual to criminal liability.

The outcome is likely to be considered by many as a failure, because the panel's objective was to bring those responsible for the murders to justice - be they police officers or anyone in higher authority who encouraged extrajudicial killings.

The Khanit na Nakhon panel is said to have opted not to name at least three political office-holders involved in administering Thaksin's highly controversial policy, despite discovering their involvement.

The report said 2,819 people were killed in 2,559 murder cases between February and April in 2003. Of those killed, 1,370 were related to drug dealing, while 878 of them were not. Another 571 people were killed without apparent reason.

Some 54 people were killed in shootouts with police officers, 41 with known drug-related links but two without any known ties. Another 11 people were killed but it is not known how they were involved in the shootouts.

The overall murder rate two years before and two years after the three-month 'War on Drugs' was 454 cases a month, or a third of the number killed between February and April 2003.

Source: The Nation - 16 January 2008

[Plus]

The problem in this whole sad story is that the investigation has been overshadowed by the battle of certain interests -and at the micro level by some on this forum- to demonise and the destroy Thaksin whereas what was needed was a cool forensic approach , unclouded by political considerations, and supported by the great and the good.

If they were simply after Thaksin, as was always implied by their critics, they would have indicted him already.

If they were driven by politics, it appears they played into PPPs hands, which is hard to believe.

Perhaps cool forensic approach is exactly what they had and there was nothing to directly link Thaksin or anyone else to the killings.

They don't have the "murder weapon" and no witnesses, only motives.

[ando]

I think what complicates matters for the investigators here is that the order was given from the very top to get tough on drugs.

Down through the echelons of command, senior directors were very careful not to step outside the law in their official directives, but with a wink and a nod gave the go ahead to do what ever may be necessary in the countries best interest. It seems the message filtered down very well to those at the forefront of law enforcement. The fact that not one conviction can be gained out of all of this indicates covert nature of the orders. Yet I am sure every one involved in the operation knew exactly what was expected of them. Such is Thailand. I guess some Farangs just dont understand how things work in Thailand

[Plus]

If they had found those "at the forefront of law enforcement" they would have had a really big case. They can't find who the winks and nods were intended for, or they won't dare to find them.

Without hard evidence they can only observe the link betweein the "legitimate" policy and rising death tolls.

[ando]

If they had found those "at the forefront of law enforcement" they would have had a really big case. They can't find who the winks and nods were intended for, or they won't dare to find them.

Without hard evidence they can only observe the link betweein the "legitimate" policy and rising death tolls.

Now you are starting to get the picture.

Thailand is such a wonderful place, a bit like Disneyland where anything can happen and seem real.

Too many important people in the wink wink, nod nod, chain of events from top to bottom. Especially at the top.

Better to put the matter to bed rather than to open a Pandora's box. I am sure the Thais have a saying for it but I don't know what it is.?

[Plus]

Not quite, there were hundreds if not thousands of killers involved in that war, their identity and affiliation is unknown, anyone who could possibly be in charge would simply deny any connection to them. No winks, no nods, no chances of exposing it to the public.

I won't be surprised if Khanit and Kraisak were presonally threatened themselves when they tried to uncover their identities.

Left without broad public support and without media coverage, they were easy, isolated targets.

Note that they don't give interviews anymore, unlike when they started.

[ando]

Sometimes its best not to look too hard if you don't want to find something.

And probably best not to talk about too.

[marshbags]

If they had found those "at the forefront of law enforcement" they would have had a really big case. They can't find who the winks and nods were intended for, or they won't dare to find them.

Without hard evidence they can only observe the link betweein the "legitimate" policy and rising death tolls.

Now you are starting to get the picture.

Thailand is such a wonderful place, a bit like Disneyland where anything can happen and seem real.

Too many important people in the wink wink, nod nod, chain of events from top to bottom. Especially at the top.

At the top, full stop.

They,ve effectively already addressed the bottom / well some of those considered anywhere below via the EJK,s as we already know.

As noted in post 1026 submitted by S.J. relating to the United Nations many of the victims were not even connected with drugs which makes the case for reopening even more essential and a top priority

Better to put the matter to bed rather than to open a Pandora's box. I am sure the Thais have a saying for it but I don't know what it is.?

Call me an optimist if you wish but i tend to think that eventually, we who care not only about this particular H.Rights issue but the all the others carried out in recent times. where it has been well documented on, who is waiting to be released from your pandoras box, and will be.

Me thinks the way this government has started going about their business and their blatant show of complete disregard for addressing the serious offences of law and order that were uncovered and backed up with evidence to put before the courts.....................

It will be their undoing and the sealing of the coffin lid, as the saying goes back home.

The snowball is gradually gaining in size and will eventually bring with it the obligatory avalanche their arrogance demands from all the, as of yet, silent majority of Law abiding citizens of Thailand.

Do not be fooled by what is not being said and think the gov. are going to run roughshod, at will, over the millions who voted for otherwise.

This includes incidently, most of those who voted for the unethical coalition members who have jumped on board to drink from the trough of plenty / enrich their accounts with mega bucks, in spite of their voters wishes.

To get back on the main topic, just in case some think i,m possibly straying ( I am speaking in relative terms )

As many have always believed and said, the EKJ,s will get it,s just rewards and the victims of these evil crimes, will get their day in court, internationally at the very least.

As this latest article proves, " it will not go away"

marshbags

[Tony Clifton]

Diplomatic passport.

[marshbags]

The Nation, Thu, February 14, 2008 : Last updated 16:14 hours

Rights group urged govt to reconsider drug war

Thai Aids Treatment Action Group (TTAG) has urged the government to reconsider its plan to carry out another round of "drug war" on the ground that authorities responsible for past violations committed in the name of drug control have not been held accountable.

"The government's rash drug war announcement has not been accompanied by appropriate mechanisms in place to guard against history repeating itself," said TTAG in reference to Thailand's controversial and bloody 2003 drug war that ended in the questionable death of nearly 3000 people in three months time.

TTAG urged the government to prosecuting perpetrators of past drug war-related crimes, and to hold public consultations to discuss the impact, including human, social, political, and health costs, of the Thai drug war approach and develop policies and laws that uphold human rights, not undermine them.

"Wholesale repression of the type experienced in 2003 will again result in thousands of inappropriate arrests, deaths, and the disruption of HIV prevention and other services," TTAG said in a statement released Thursday.

Concern over another round of drug war launched by the Thaksin Administration surfaced just days after the new government took power. Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said last week said he plan to launch another round of all out war on drugs.

"Narcotics must be lessened in 90 days, although they can't be wiped out," said Chalerm, a former police captain whose son was acquitted of charges of killing a policeman in a bar for lack of evidence.

Chalerm said he would spend time on the Thai-Burmese border, the point of entry for illicit drugs produced in the Burma that has been flooding Thai streets over the past decades.

Officials said drug armies continue to operate independently on the Burmese section of the Golden Triangle.

Efforts by the Thaksin government to get the Rangoon to clamp down on the drug lords failed as Burmese junta refused to pick a fight with the drug armies as it would ended the Burmese junta's decades-old cease-fire agreements with them.

The 2003 war on drugs launched by ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was generally welcome by the public but it drew a great deal of criticism from the rights group and foreign governments, including the United States and members of the Congress.

The government of Surayud Chulanont called the drug war a "crime against humanity", but failed to link Thaksin to extra judicial killings.

Thaksin's controversial war succeeded in pushing the street price of the illicit drugs up for a while but did virtually nothing in terms of solving the domestic problem.

TTAG called on the new Thai government to "work with civil society organizations including people who use drugs to develop a humane approach to the country's drug problem.

TTAG said continued rates of HIV infection among drug users in Thailand, and reports of abuses by law enforcement, demonstrate how much is at stake.

"Rather than being subjected to indiscriminate suppression, people who use drugs must be supported to be actively and meaningfully involved in leading harm reduction work in Thailand. Efforts to force tens of thousands into prison or drug treatment are ineffective and immoral," TTAG said

In November last year TTAG and Human Rights Watch co-authored a report, "Deadly Denial: Barriers to HIV/Aids Treatment for People who Use Drugs in Thailand". The report highlighted the failure of the government's part to live up to its promise that drug users, including those living with HIV/Aids, would be treated as patients rather then criminals.

For more information, please visit: www.hrw.org and www.ttag.info

marshbags

[marshbags]

Bangkok Post, General news >> Friday February 15, 2008

SOCIETY / 'ACCEPTANCE' OF AUTHORITARIANISM

Jon says future's bleak for human rights here

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT

Quote :-

Human rights in Thailand will not improve with an elected government back in power as there are structural flaws embedded with authoritarianism, a rights advocate said yesterday.

Jon Ungphakorn, a well-known rights activist and former senator, said bureaucracy as well as police and army officers were at the core of human rights problems in Thailand.

The Thaksin administration gave the nod to extrajudicial killings in its notorious war on drugs, there were forced disappearances and extensive use of force, while the Council of National Security also curbed conventional and alternative media, Mr Jon said.

Unquote.

For the complete article go to :-

Ref url :- http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Feb2008_news03.php

marshbags

[sriracha john]

Drug-war panel to raise four killings

The Independent Investigative Committee on the Casualties of the 2003 War on Drugs will soon submit its first report to the government, proposing compensation for relatives of four victims that were killed under former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's policy, said a source.

The source, who asked not to be named, said the four victims were nine-year-old Chakraphan "Fluke" Srisa-ard, Nikhon Unkaew and his wife Kanya, and Ooy Hemmun.

Fluke was killed by police when he was in his father's car while police disguised as drug-buyers tried to buy methamphetamines from his father.

According to the source, the committee wants the government to compensate relatives of the four victims soon to assure relatives of other victims that the panel is able to bring them justice. The panel is still open to receiving more complaints from relatives.

Set up by the government in August, the independent committee - chaired by former Attorney-General Khanit na Nakhon - is authorised to prosecute anyone found to be involved in the killings and to perform a fact-finding role and work out compensation for relatives of the victims.

Charnchao Chaiyunikij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Justice Ministry and Secretary of the Committee, said the panel during the past three months had looked into all cases of drug-related killings during the campaign initiated by Thaksin in 2003, in order to identify cases that could be truly related to trafficking.

- The Nation

UPDATE... the uncle refuses to give up

Friday decision on re-opening probe into boy's killing

The Criminal Court will rule on Friday whether a new investigation should be launched into the death of a nine-year-old boy killed during a drug sting by police in Bangkok five years ago.

Earlier, public prosecutors dropped the case despite a complaint from the boy's uncle that three policemen from the Bang Chan Police Station used excessive force in their operation to nab the boy's father on the night of February 23, 2003.

That night, nine-year-old Chakraphan Srisa-ard succumbed to two gunshot wounds and his mother mysteriously disappeared. The boy's father was sent to jail and is serving a 25-year term for trafficking methamphetamines.

The boy's uncle Somchai Kerdrungruang said yesterday: "I hope the court will deliver justice and set a precedent that extra-judicial killings do not translate into good police work."

He said police clearly opened fire on a defenceless Chakraphan and his parents despite the fact none of them tried to resist arrest.

"There were six gunshot holes in their vehicle."

Somchai said he did not believe the police claim that unknown gunmen fired the shots and that the arresting officers simply ducked bullets fired from behind them during the sting operation, in which Chakraphan's father delivered 6,000 methamphetamine tablets to undercover police.

Somchai said police lawyers had repeatedly tried to persuade him to drop his complaint against Sergeant Major Pipat Sangin, Lance Corporal Anusorn Tansuwan and Corporal Panumas Chana-cham in exchange for Bt400,000 to Bt500,000 in cash. "But I have turned such offers down. I want justice. I want to know whether police officers who shot the young boy will face legal punishment," he said.

When public prosecutors dropped the case against the three policemen, Somchai went to the National Human Rights Commission in late 2005. Together, they appealed to the court against the prosecutors' decision not to sue the three police.

The Criminal Court will rule on their appeal on Friday. If the court rules in Somchai's favour, a fresh investigation into his nephew's death will start and the case will go again to public prosecutors for a review. If public prosecutors agree, the case will finally go to court.

Currently, Chakraphan's case is being handled by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) after the Surayud Chulanont government questioned the 3,000 extra-judicial killings during Thaksin Shinawatra-led administration's notorious "War on Drugs".

- The Nation

[BigSnake]

Yeah, when Donkey fly, he will be held accountable.

[sriracha john]

Activists fear new 'war on drugs'

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung's declaration that he will get tough with drug dealers has raised fears of a repeat of the large number of extra-judicial killings during the "War on Drugs" initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

Social activist Gothom Areeya yesterday said it was a curse to have an Interior Minister who had disregard for human life and human rights.

"All murders are illegal, whether it is a case of criminals killing one another or police killing them," he added.

Democrat Party-list MP and former Senator Kraisak Chonhavan called on Chalerm to "read carefully" the report of an independent panel set up by the previous government to look into the drug-related killings.

The panel found that more than 800 victims of more than 2,800 allegedly drug-related murders during Thaksin's campaign had nothing to do with drug dealing, and that the police made little progress in solving 80 cases pursued by victims' relatives.

A National Human Rights Commission report said the number of innocent victims could be as high as 1,100, he added.

Kraisak said a revival of the get-tough policy would likely result in the use of violence. "I wouldn't want the minister to make a statement in such a manner, which is like giving the green light to police to use violence on drug dealers. This may prompt an urge to set up a 'kill record' to comply with the get-tough policy."

Phairoj Pholphet, head of the Promotion of the People's Freedom Association, said Chalerm's statement sends the wrong signal that policemen were authorised to use violence against drug suspects at will.

- The Nation

[marshbags]

Bangkok Post breaking news 22-02-2008

Quote

PM prepares to revive war on drugs

(BangkokPost.com, Agencies) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said the government will revive the war on drug campaign, which the first time around allegedly caused around 2,500 extra-judicial killings.

The campaign was initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration to stop the spread of narcotics. Police investigators, the media and human rights groups have estimated that at least 2,500 people died as police cracked down on small-time drug dealers in villages in 2003 and 2004.

"My government will decisively implement a policy against drug trafficking," he said. "Government officials must implement this policy 24 hours a day, but I will not set a target for how many people should die."

Unquote

Ref url for the full article :- http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126087

The highlighted part is very disturbing to say the least.

In fact i find the whole article and it,s contents very disturbing indeed.

Seems he is in complete denial as with the CNN interview.

The inhuman, insensitive, evil, lying B*S*ARD, Just like his exiled puppet master

marshbags

[sriracha john]

Thai PM vows "rigorous" war on drugs despite outcry

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej promised on Friday to launch another war on drugs despite protests from human rights groups which denounced the deaths of at least 2,500 people in an earlier campaign.

"We will pursue a suppression campaign rigorously. There will be consequences," Samak told reporters who asked if he would revive the anti-drug campaign started in 2003 by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Samak, who campaigned in a December election as a proxy for Thaksin, said one of the consequences would be killings among drug dealers and putting the blame on police, but the government would not be deterred by such allegations.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung told parliament late on Wednesday he would adopt Thaksin's approach in his anti-drug campaign even if "thousands of people have to die".

"When we implement a policy that may bring 3,000 to 4,000 bodies, we will do it," said Chalerm, a former police captain.

The National Human Rights Commission urged the government this week to avoid errors the Thaksin administration made during the three-month campaign after a cabinet minister said he would pursue Thaksin's policy.

It was referring to allegations that police were told to produce lists of suspects to be targeted and some turned out to be innocent of involvement in a drug trade focused on methamphetamine in wide use.

Human rights groups accused police of extra-judicial killings of suspects although Thaksin's government said most of the deaths resulted from inter-gang warfare.

Samak said on Friday he did not doubt police reports that only 59 of the 2,500 deaths were at the hands of police.

"Why are you journalists so concerned about the deaths of those drug dealers? Should the government pass regulations saying police can't shoot drug dealers," Samak said at a news conference.

"Should the law say police are allowed to fire only after being shot at by fleeing drug dealers," he said.

Samak denied innocent people were killed. "If they were innocent, why were they killed?"

But National Human Rights commissioner Vasant Panich said the government should try to help families of innocent people killed during the campaign rather than reviving it.

"More than 1,000 people killed during the campaign were classified as innocent people by the Royal Thai Police, but the government has given no compensation to their families so far," Vasant told Reuters.

The war on drugs cut supply and pushed up prices for a while, but business returned to normal after the campaign petered out, anti-drug agencies say.

- Reuters

[marshbags]

The Nation Sat, February 23, 2008 : Last updated 3:43 hours

PM backs Chalerm'snew 'war on drugs'

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday defended the government's policy to get tough with drug dealers, while Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said it would "be natural" if more than 2,700 people were killed during the crackdown.Published on February 23, 2008

"Should we do nothing because we are afraid that someone is going to criticise us for silence killings that may occur?" Samak said, when asked about the revival of the government's "war on drugs" and the possibility of many more killings.

The war on drugs launched by the Thaksin Shinawatra-led government saw more than 2,800 allegedly drug-related deaths. Police claimed that those murdered were drug traffickers targeted by fellow traffickers to prevent them from speaking up.

However, several reports later showed that many victims were not linked to the drug trade at all.

"Why are you worried about the fate of drug traffickers?" Samak said, insisting his government was going to launch a serious crackdown.

Chalerm, the first government figure to push for the revival of the tough policy on drugs, reiterated his stand yesterday.

"It's a good policy," he said.

Speaking to Interior Mini-stry executives, provincial governors and district chiefs, Chalerm said it would be natural if more than 2,700 people were killed during the upcoming crackdown.

"I am not saying you should summon drug suspects and shoot them down," he said, "I am just telling you to closely monitor drug suspects and cooperate closely with police".

Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said he would not interfere with Chalerm's plan to seriously crack down on drug traffickers. However, he said he would oppose any excessive use of force.

In a related development, Sompong said he was going to propose to Samak that the authorities should be able to investigate the assets of drug suspects' extended families.

"Seven generations would be appropriate," he said, "Such an investigation would allow us to see money circulating in the illicit drug trade."

Meanwhile, police yesterday reported two large hauls of methamphetamine tablets.

In one case, 198,000 tablets were seized from four foreigners at a house in Chiang Rai. In the other, police confiscated 100,000 tablets after two drug traffickers were shot dead.

The dealers opened fire after they discovered they were delivering the illicit drugs to undercover policemen. The police shot back, killing the two men.

The Nation

Unquote

I still do not see any reference to addressing the source suppliers / drug barons and doing the obvious that is most likely to help eradicate / curtail the problem.

While it is never likely to be totally successful, without those seemingly protected top of the chain individuals being taken out of the equation, it will just restart and the cycle will continue with new mules and escalation of yet again more drugs ect. ect.ect., just like it is alledged to have happened this time along with targeting the wrong end of the chain as the first target.

If they are really serious, let us see these scum arrested and exposed to the public no matter what their priviledged station in life is, especially the so called PUYAI, who silence the insignificant members of society

I say priviledged, because they would otherwise suffer a similar indiscrimate ending like the unfortunate victims of the last, infamous, drug war, along with at least 500 who did not even have any suspected involvement what so ever.

Innocent until proved guilty the justice system officially states, sadly this only applies to the chosen few, who in the majority of cases are as everyone knows, guilty as hel_l, but still manage to stay out of jail and continue to live their lives accordingly.

To add insult to injury look at the names of those who are now going to re introduce another unlawful vendetta on law and order.

Chalerm and Samak !!!

Then consider them, their families and their fellow coherts in relation to LAW AND ORDER and the irony of what they continue to be seemingly aspiring to do.

@#!$#%#$%%%#$ ect. ect. ect.

marshbags and sick of their hypocrisy

[seonai]

I can't say too much but I was involved in the first 'War Against Drugs' if anyone wants to chat about that ...

[marshbags]

The Nation Fri, February 22, 2008 : Last updated 19:25 hours

Court fails to rule on death of nine-year-old boy

The Criminal Court failed on Friday to rule on whether three policemen were involved in the death of a nine-year-old boy during a sting operation five years ago.

Given the available evidence, the court only ruled that Chakraphan Srisaard, 9, died of gunshot wounds on February 23, 2003 during the course of a police operation.

"It remains inconclusive as to whether the boy was shot by police," the court said.

According to the court, a police report showed the bullets that hit the boy did not match those used by the police officers involved in the sting operation.

However, an autopsy on the boy disproved police claims that unknown gunmen shot the boy from behind and there was nothing to rebut a suggestion that other guns, rather than the defendants' firearms, were sent for forensic examination.

Chakraphan's uncle, Somchai Kerdrungruang, petiฌtioned the court after public prosecutors dropped the case against the three policemen.

Somchai complained that the three policemen from the Bang Chan Police Station used excessive force to arrest the boy's father.

On the night of February 23, 2003, Chakraphan was killed by two gunshot wounds, and his mother mysteriously disappeared. The boy's father was imprisoned and is serving a 25-year term for trafficking methamphetamines.

According to the boy's father, his wife attempted to flee the scene after police arrived. Gunshots were heard soon after.

The court was asked to look into how Chakraphan died.

"Five years ago, my nephew died and my younger sister disappeared. Several vendors saw policemen dragging my younger sister into a pickup but no one dared to show up in the court. These policemen are still working in the police force," Somchai said after hearing the court's decision.

He said he could only pin his hopes on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) about Chakraphan's case.

Assigned by the Surayud Chulanontled administration, the DSI is looking into many suspicious killings during the Thaksin Shinawatraled government's war on drugs.

Chakraphan's case is among those being handled by DSI.

"I will wait for the DSI's findฌings on what happened," Somchai said. DSI officers attended Friday's court session.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

Thai PM pledges to revive deadly anti-drugs drive

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej pledged yesterday to revive a controversial anti-drugs campaign which human rights groups say led to the extra-judicial killings of some 2,500 people.

The drugs war was initially launched by deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak's political patron, to curb an alarming surge in the flow of narcotics through the kingdom.

Although Thaksin's get-tough campaign enjoyed widespread public support and did stem the supply of narcotics, human rights groups estimate at least 2,500 people died in extra-judicial killings in 2003 and 2004.

Thaksin has always denied any wrongdoing.

Samak said yesterday that the deaths were the result of in-fighting among drug traffickers, but hinted the new campaign

may also be bloody.

"My government will decisively implement a policy against drug trafficking. Government officials must implement this policy 24 hours a day, but I will not set a target for how many people should die,"‌ he said.

He also strongly defended Thaksin's record on drugs. "The drug traffickers were killing each other so that authorities would not be able to question them and track down their big bosses,"‌ he told reporters, referring to the earlier deaths.

"I have no doubt that 2,500 people were killed. It could even be 5,000, but what can the government do when they are killing each other?"‌ he added.

"If (the) police killed someone, then we would call that an extra-judicial killing. There are only 59 such cases, and the police are standing trial for those deaths."‌

- AFP

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

or not standing trial as per other posts....

[sriracha john]

Cops charged in death of 'Nong Fluke' freed

The Criminal Court yesterday freed three police officers charged with killing a nine-year-old boy, Nong Fluke, during a police sting operation to arrest his father on drug trafficking charges. The court ruled the boy died of a gunshot that ripped through his heart and lung while police were carrying out their duty. According to the court, investigators in the case could not identify the gun which killed Chakrapan Srisa-ard, nicknamed Nong Fluke, on the night of Feb 23, 2003. The bullet which killed the boy did not match the guns of the police officers, while the plaintiff did not argue that the police changed their guns. The court ruling into the cause of Nong Fluke's death yesterday was considered final. The public prosecutor who filed the lawsuit may not appeal the case, said a Criminal Court source. However, a damaged party or Nong Fluke's relatives may file a lawsuit against the police officers if

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/23Feb2008_news11.php

[sriracha john]

Government to launch a new war on drugs

Human rights groups concerned over move

The government is to go ahead with a plan to revive the war on drugs campaign amid grave concern by human rights activists. PM Samak said he will soon call a meeting with state-run agencies in charge of drug suppression to lay down the drugs policy. He said he will order the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to be responsible for it. Samak shrugged off public criticism that the drug war by the government of deposed PM Thaksin had violated human rights as it reportedly had claimed the lives of thousands of innocent victims. He showed no sympathy over those killed during the Thaksin government's war on drugs, while pleading for public understanding over the need for a drugs policy. Had they been innocent, they would not have been killed, he said. Somchai Homlaor, chairman of the NGOs Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, said he will shortly call a meeting with his human rights networks to discuss the government's war on drugs. The networks will immediately launch campaigns against it, should the policy be deemed to put innocent lives at risk, he said. Mr Somchai urged Samak and Chalerm to respect principles of human rights and the rule of law. He added that international human rights bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Committee are keeping an eye on the policy.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/23Feb2008_news12.php

[sriracha john]

Chalerm Yoobamrung

Social Activists Frightened by Interior Minister’s New “War on Drugs” Policy

Social activists cautioned yesterday that recent announcement by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to begin a new “war on drugs” might result in repeated extra-judicial killings similar to drug wars launched during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

The Interior Minister vowed during the government’s parliamentary session on policy debate that he would heavily enforce narcotic trades among drug dealers and would initiate a new “War on drugs” against violators of such crime.

Social Activist Gothom Areeya on Thursday condemned Chalerm for not concerning about human life and people’s right. Gothom said any form of murder is considered illegal, including murders among criminals or criminals being killed upon abduction by authorities.

According to results of an independent panel established by the previous administration vetting drug-related extra-judicial killings during the Thaksin era, there were over 800 victims from a total of 2,800 drug-related murder cases during the period that were not related to the drugs trade.

Police investigation into 80 cases filed by relatives of the victims also showed no progress in bringing about justice for the damaged parties.

A report released earlier by the National Human Rights Commission insisted that the number of innocent victims during the Thaksin’s War on drugs campaign may have reached 1,100.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party-list MP and former Senator Kraisak Choonhavan yesterday urged the Interior Minister to carefully examine the panel’s reports, claiming that his intention to revive the “war on drugs” policy could lead to further violence.

Kraisak said he was disappointed with Chalerm’s comments regarding the issue, for his “get-tough” policy might motivate police to use extensive force when punishing drug dealers.

Shairing similar views with Kraisak, Phairoj Pholphet, Head of the Promotion of the People’s Freedom Association, claimed that the statement made by the Interior Minister during the parliamentary debate on government policies may have mislead police officers into thinking that it was practically normal to use violence against suspects of narcotic-related crimes.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

I can't say too much but I was involved in the first 'War Against Drugs' if anyone wants to chat about that ...

Please DO share with the forum whatever you are willing to reveal.