Pubdate: Sun, 21 Dec 2003
Source: Nation, The (Thailand)
Copyright: 2003 Nation Multimedia Group
Contact:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963

ACTIVISTS DEMAND DETAILS OF DRUG DEATHS

The Campaign for Popular Democracy yesterday called on police to release 
additional details on the deaths resulting from the government's war on drugs.

The campaign made five demands aimed at clearing up lingering doubts about 
the deadly crackdown, which lasted from February to April.

In its first demand, the group said the police report should include the 
numbers of innocent victims who were killed or mistreated because their 
names appeared on drug blacklists.

The government must also spell out measures to correct the damage done.

In its second demand, the group said police must provide clear evidence to 
justify the 57 cases classified as extra-judicial killings.

The third demand said police must respond to petitions filed with the 
National Human Rights Commission. The petitions called for police to 
reassess certain cases in which innocent people were supected of having 
been killed by mistake.

The fourth demand called on the prime minister to intervene and ensure that 
rogue policemen be punished.

The final demand called for the government to form an independent panel to 
scrutinise the police report. The panel should comprise human rights 
advocates and legal academics.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman