Pubdate: Mon, 19 Feb 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: Bhanravee Tansubhapol

DSI LINKS POLICE TO DRUG WAR KILLINGS

The Department of Special Investigation has evidence linking police 
to four extra-judicial killings during deposed prime minister Thaksin 
Shinawatra's war on drugs in 2003. Ex-premier Thaksin could face 
charges of incitement.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said on Monday that all four 
cases were transferred from the police to the DSI which began its 
investigation in December 2006 following complaints lodged by 
victims' families.

The four cases were the death of a nine-year-old boy, alias Nong 
Fluke, on Feb 23, 2003 and the subsequent disappearance of his 
mother; the killings of Nikhom Ounkaew and his wife Khanraya, in 
Nakhon Ratchasima's Khon Buri district on March 28, 2003; the deaths 
of Pongthep and Ampaiwan Rukhongprasert in Tak's Mae Sot district on 
May 18, 2003; and the killing of educator Samarn Thongdee in Tak's 
Muang district in April 2003.

"The DSI will query the officers who were on duty at that time [of 
the killings] in order to ascertain the reasons they killed the 
victims," said Mr Sunai.

He said if the DSI found evidence that police procured fake witnesses 
or evidence in the death of Nong Fluke, the officials involved would 
be prosecuted on many counts including contempt of court, giving 
false evidence, providing fake witnesses and malfeasance of duty.

He said he has assigned his deputy, Tarit Pengdit, to collect the 
speeches by Mr Thaksin on drug suppression, to find evidence that may 
link the former prime minister to the extra-judicial killings.

In one well-known case, Mr Thaksin was heard mentioning an 
"iron-fist" method in approving brutal measures for drug suppression. 
In particular, he said it was not uncommon for people to die during a 
war on drugs.

A source said the DSI may bring in criminologists as witnesses to Mr 
Thaksin's "iron-fist" approach to determine if this constituted abuse of power.

He said if the evidence is clear, the DSI will bring it to Justice 
Minister Chanchai Likhitjitta and Justice permanent secretary Jarun 
Pukditanakul to discuss if there are sufficient grounds to issue an 
arrest warrant for Mr Thaksin on charges of supporting or inciting 
officials to kill suspects.

At least 1,164 people were killed during the three-month war on drugs.

However, Mr Sunai said cases of extra-judicial killings could not be 
forwarded to the International Criminal Court, as urged by human 
rights activists, so Mr Thaksin could not be prosecuted there since 
Thailand is not a party to the court.
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