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.