Pubdate: Sun, 23 Sep 2007
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2007
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39
Author: Supawadee Inthawong

JUSTICE PANEL TO REVIEW TRT CABINET MEETINGS

Thaksin's Drugs War Policy Under Scrutiny

An independent committee looking into alleged  extra-judicial 
killings during the 2003 war on drugs  has agreed to examine Thaksin 
Shinawatra's cabinet  meetings to find out more about the drugs war 
policy  blamed for more than 2,500 deaths. A source close to  the 
committee said the members deemed it necessary to  study and analyse 
what was discussed during the cabinet  meetings at the time.

According to the source, the minutes of the meetings  might offer 
clues as to how the policy laid down by  deposed prime minister 
Thaksin turned violent.

The committee, chaired by former attorney-general  Khanit na Nakhon, 
met yesterday to study preliminary  information supplied by state agencies.

Committee secretary Charnchao Chaiyanukij said that a  key piece of 
information was a recording of an  anti-drugs meeting between Mr 
Thaksin and provincial  governors and senior interior officials.

The committee was recently set up to study the  formation and 
implementation of drug suppression  policies during the Thaksin 
administration and six  sub-committees were formed to assist it in its work.

Jarun Pukditanakul, permanent secretary for justice and  head of a 
sub-panel, said yesterday the committee  needed more information from 
the public and the media  as most of the details to date had come 
from state  agencies.

Mr Jarun's panel is tasked with investigating the  policy makers who 
were behind the war on drugs in 2003.

Kraisak Choonhavan, who chairs a sub-committee on the  international 
community, said his panel has requested  data from international 
organisations to supply  information about human rights violations in 
the war on  drugs.

These agencies include the United Nations Commission on  Human 
Rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights  Watch, he said.

Mr Khanit, meanwhile, said the committee might not be  able to 
complete its job by the time the interim  government leaves office. A 
general election has been  scheduled for December 23.

He said the committee members were aware that the task  is extremely difficult.

"But a change of government should not be a problem as  long as our 
work has support from the public," he  said.

The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Oct 27.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom