Pubdate: Wed, 26 Feb 2003
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2003
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Thailand (Thailand)

UN ENVOY PLEADS: STOP KILLING SPREE

The special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary
executions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Asma
Jahangir, has expressed deep concern at the many deaths in Thailand's
war on drugs.

Ms Jahangir has urged Thai authorities to ensure law enforcement and
security officials carry out their duties in strict compliance with
national and international human rights, and in particular that "the
strict limits on the use of lethal force, as stipulated under the UN
Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law-enforcement
Officials, are followed rigorously and without exception". She also
called on authorities to carry out transparent and independent
investigations into each death.

Up to Monday, 977 people had lost their lives in drug-related
"gangland killings" and 16 drug suspects had been killed by police
in self-defence, according to the Interior Ministry's drug suppression
centre yesterday.

The centre said 8,745 drug suspects were arrested and 36,277 had
reported to authorities since Feb 1.

The government's target is for the number of drug suspects to be cut
by 25% by the end of this month, and none left by the end of the
three-month war on drugs on April 30. As of Feb 24, the number of drug
traders and producers had fallen by 21.09%, the ministry said.

Of 928 state officials blacklisted for involvement in drug trade, 48
had been arrested. A total of 242,074 drug users had reported to
authorities.

Senators and opposition MPs said the government's "number game" was
to blame for bodies piling up, including that of an innocent
nine-year-old boy.

Senator Sak Korsaengruang said threats by Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha to penalise
officials who failed to arrest enough drug dealers had pressured them
to use violence. "They are sending out the wrong message. Their
demand for high figures forces authorities to do everything to meet
the target," he said.

He believed that was why policemen allegedly shot at a car to catch a
suspect without caring that nine-year-old Chakkapan Srisa-ard was
inside. "They just formed a kangaroo court. They kill people though
they don't know for sure if they are on the blacklists."

Senate Speaker Manoonkrit Roopkachorn also voiced concern about the
rising number of deaths. The government would have to answer eight
motions concerning its tough drug policy in the Senate tomorrow, he
said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake