UN CONCERNED BY HIGH DEATH TOLL

Senate Panel Wants Govt Accountability

The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime expressed concern yesterday
over the high number of deaths as a result of the three-month policy on
drug suppression in Thailand.

Although showing satisfaction about the Thai efforts in tackling drug
problems, Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN agency, was
worried about the high number of victims.

He raised his concerns in talks with Sorajak Kasemsuwan, assistant to the
foreign minister.

About 2,300 people were victims of drug-related killings during the
three-month drug suppression campaign. Only half of them have obvious
involvement in the drug business. Police admitted to only 51 extra-judicial
killings blaming the rest on drug traffickers killing off each other to
prevent police getting to the top bosses.

``We hope the Thai government will investigate all cases and abide by its
laws,'' Mr Sorajak quoted him as saying.

Mr Sorajak said the investigation process might take time but told Mr Costa
that the Thai government would look into them.

The UN agency was ready to help Thailand tackle crime, Mr Sorajak said,
adding that Thailand had invited representatives of the UN agency to
Bangkok to discuss human trafficking, another concern for Mr Costa.

- - The senate panel on public participation yesterday demanded the
government listen to previously expressed US concerns over the death toll
in the war on drugs.

Chirmsak Pinthong, the chairman, said the use of violent means to curb drug
abuse was inappropriate.

``The US comment on the anti-drugs policy is useful because it reminds the
government to think about human rights. It should not always react by
claiming to be doing the `right thing','' he said.

Mr Chirmsak also said the government's blacklists of people involved in
illicit drugs were flawed. The police and the Interior Ministry mistakenly
listed innocent people as dealers after being misled by informers.

More than 200 names should have been removed from the lists after officials
found they were not involved in the drug trade, but the Interior Ministry
refused to act, he said.

Police also admitted to 51 extra-judicial killings and there were about
2,300 other drug-related killings during the three-month campaign.
Hilltribe villagers were also treated unfairly because the public sector
always branded them as drug dealers.

The anti-drugs crusade had also caused hardship to families and children of
the people killed.

``The government should be more concerned about human rights instead of
using power and violence to solve the problem,'' he said.