U.S. EMBASSY CONFIRMS NO APOLOGY ISSUED

The US Embassy in Bangkok yesterday confirmed that Washington did not
write a letter of apology to the Thai government over its criticism of
extrajudicial killings by Thai police.

Government Spokesman Jakrapob Penkair claimed on Tuesday that the
United States had issued a written apology for alleging in its 2003
annual report on human rights that Thai law enforcement officers had
carried out extrajudicial killings during the government's war on
drugs last year.

"There have been no messages from either President [George] Bush or US
Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Thai government regarding the
human rights report," said Mark Larson, an embassy spokesman. "The US
is standing by its human rights report," he said.

Larson said the information compiled for the report was gathered from
many sources, including media accounts, human rightsrelated
institutions, the Royal Thai Army and interviews with relevant officials.

Jakrapop also said that Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai had
told the Cabinet at its weekly meeting that the US admitted it had
used outdated information when compiling the report.

Larson yesterday told the Nation Channel that a letter concerning the
report was dispatched to inform the Thai government about a single
error concerning a UN human rights officer's visit to Thailand and
that it had been edited.

Meanwhile, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman,
denied that Surakiart had mentioned the apology during the Cabinet
meeting.

"The foreign minister mentioned that the US had expressed regret if
the report had any inaccuracies," Sihasak said.

Jakrapob may have misunderstood, he said.