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 extrajudicial 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.
Source: The Nation
Thought: King Thaksin is back with a vengeance.
Activists fear new 'war on drugs'
Activists fear new 'war on drugs'
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
It doesn't matter a hoot which "Political Party" runs this country. There are only 2 major factors of Power in Thailand - the Police and the Army. Thaksin had the police and he was overthrown by the army. The army pissed off a lot of police captains while they were in power and the police want their power back. The so-called war on drugs allow the police to kill whoever they want without any repercussion. That gives them their power back and the "war on drugs" is a populist policy. It therefore makes political sense. Welcome to the world of democracy? Choice sir? Would you like to vote for frying pan or fire?
Fantastic quotes coming out at the moment - when education is truly embraced in Thailand as more than just a political tool to win votes there will be a great book written about all of this.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
From today's Nation. Let's see whether the present government can do better than Thaksin and murder more people. Frightening:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02 ... 066235.php
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02 ... 066235.php
Another good one from the Nation:
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."
-Seven generations? Are they going to be digging up people who died in the 1800’s!
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."
-Seven generations? Are they going to be digging up people who died in the 1800’s!
The government will launch its war on drug on April 2 and mobilise all units to crack down on illicit drugs for 90 days, Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrun said on Wednesday.
Chalerm said he was aware of a difficult fight ahead but expected cut down the trafficking. He called for strict law enforcement without heeding the concern of human right advocates.
-- The Nation 2008-03-26
So as from next Wednesday, the police are back in power with the authority to kill and label it "The War On Drugs". The sad thing is most people will approve this because they trust and believe in authority, even if they tell you an airplane can disintegrate completely after hitting a building.
Chalerm said he was aware of a difficult fight ahead but expected cut down the trafficking. He called for strict law enforcement without heeding the concern of human right advocates.
-- The Nation 2008-03-26
So as from next Wednesday, the police are back in power with the authority to kill and label it "The War On Drugs". The sad thing is most people will approve this because they trust and believe in authority, even if they tell you an airplane can disintegrate completely after hitting a building.
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Wanderlust
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sandman67
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None of this policy makes any sense in any form at all.....how the hell you are supposed to questions suspects when you have shot em is beyond me.
As usual this is a half baked excuse for a publicity exercise, badly thought out and implemented by incompetents.
The result, as last time, will be a bunch of dead poor people and sod all effect on controlling drugs.
As usual this is a half baked excuse for a publicity exercise, badly thought out and implemented by incompetents.
The result, as last time, will be a bunch of dead poor people and sod all effect on controlling drugs.
"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
