Pubdate: Thu, 06 Mar 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
Author: Ploenpote Atthakor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Thailand
Note: On Feb. 1, 2003, Thailand instituted a 3-month campaign to eradicate
all drugs.

PM 'RESPONSIBLE' FOR DEATHS

Whether the drug killings are the work of gangsters or police, Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and law enforcement authorities can not escape
responsibility for failing to ensure public safety, a former deputy police
chief said yesterday.

The death spree had turned Thailand into a society of fear, Pol Gen Vasit
Dejkunchorn said.

''Even worse, more women have become victims. The killings are not limited
to men any more,'' he said in a speech on the lessons of extra-judicial
killing at the Princess Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre.

Although police had blamed drug gangs for most of the deaths, which he said
was yet to be proved, they were obliged to deter such violence.

''Even if it was murder done by a drug dealer, the fact that police could
not prevent it happening means the crime prevention mechanism is not
working,'' he said. Since police were directed by the prime minister, Mr
Thaksin must also be held responsible.

Impartial organisations should step in to monitor police actions in each
killing. Police should not be allowed to set things up.

''Killing is killing and police involved in the act should be held
responsible, just like any other killer, unless it can be shown that the
death was completely unavoidable,'' Pol Gen Vasit said. ''Police are not
allowed to break the law.''

Pornchai Tarkulwaranont of Thammasat's Faculty of Anthropology said the
string of deaths was a costly lesson, but it appeared Thai society tolerated
violence and the abuse of human rights.

''Most opinion polls indicate that people find the brutal measures
accepatable. Internet chat boards show the same trend,'' he said.

He was concerned about the mix-up in state blacklists of alleged dealers,
which put the lives of innocent people at risk.

''It turns out that many on the blacklists were not dealers but addicts who
were to attend a rehabilitation programme,'' he said.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk