IMPORTANT TO KNOW TRUTH ABOUT DRUG WAR

New investigations are set to begin into the
death of more than 2,500 people in the war on drugs launched by the
Thaksin government. They are to determine how many of those killed
were really drug dealers. Former senator Kraisak Choonhavan has also
called on the Justice Ministry to look into suspected human rights
violations in the restive South. He met the permanent secretary for
justice and asked him to order the Department of Special
Investigation to look into these cases.

The Thaksin government launched the war on drugs in 2003 in response
to the growing addiction to methamphetamines among young Thais. The
Royal Thai Police Office instructed provincial officials to take
drastic action against drug dealers. As it was a war, performance was
judged by the number of drug dealers killed.

Former foreign minister and Democrat party member Surin Pitsuwan said
the war on drugs was one of the main reasons for the escalation of
violence in the deep South, where separatist insurgents are waging a
war against the government. He said the United Nations Human Rights
Commission has identified 26 cases of human rights violations in Thailand.

We support any attempts by the interim Surayud government to look
into these cases, which have tarnished the image of the country. Thai
people want to know how many of those killed in the war on drugs were
really drug dealers and how many were just scapegoats.

The investigation will contribute to the Surayud government's reform
of the justice system. Police have claimed that many of the deaths
were caused by drug dealers killing each other. But many believe
theywere cases of extra-judicial killings carried out by law
enforcement officers.

It is important to unearth the truth so that corrective action can be taken.