The Drug War

[Admin_2]

This is a pretty interesting report on the drug war started by the Thaksin administration.

[Guest marty]

This is a pretty interesting report on the drug war started by the Thaksin administration.

human rights watch have a lot to say about this. i seem to recall them referring to thaksin ' ...as a human rights abuser of the worst kind...'. there is a report here:

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/thailand0704/thailand0704.pdf

and a briefing paper here:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/12/thailand-s-war-drugs

and here's a link quoting the '..human rights abuser ...' bit

[LasseDK]

watch this too: "The Crazy Drug"

[LakeGeneve]

Belatedly, there is some attempt at accountability for a small number of these cases.

It was reported a few weeks ago that DSI is investigating 6 police in Kalasin in relation to the deaths of about a dozen people. Hopefully, it may the start of a more widespread review of all of the shootings (extrajudicial executions) during that period.

I'll look for the articles later tonight when I have some time and post the info.

[Neo]

Belatedly, there is some attempt at accountability for a small number of these cases.

It was reported a few weeks ago that DSI is investigating 6 police in Kalasin in relation to the deaths of about a dozen people. Hopefully, it may the start of a more widespread review of all of the shootings (extrajudicial executions) during that period.

I'll look for the articles later tonight when I have some time and post the info.

Better to look at who ordered the crack down, and then proudly stood behind it taking credit for it's "success".

[LakeGeneve]

Belatedly, there is some attempt at accountability for a small number of these cases.

It was reported a few weeks ago that DSI is investigating 6 police in Kalasin in relation to the deaths of about a dozen people. Hopefully, it may the start of a more widespread review of all of the shootings (extrajudicial executions) during that period.

I'll look for the articles later tonight when I have some time and post the info.

Better to look at who ordered the crack down, and then proudly stood behind it taking credit for it's "success".

I don't understand your point mate? There is a wealth of material in relation to the human rights abuses committed under Thaksin and how his (not TRT) policies, directives and commentary facilitated such abuses.

What has been missing is actual criminal investigations of each case by an seperate body, (leaving aside the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand report and a few national NGO reports), which is appropriatelty mandated and resourced. Impunity has to be addressed at all levels - those that directed that the killings take place and those that undertook the executions.

IF DSI get a few cases to the courts in Kalasin then perhaps more cases may be pursued. That is a big IF!

[Neo]

I don't understand your point mate? There is a wealth of material in relation to the human rights abuses committed under Thaksin and how his (not TRT) policies, directives and commentary facilitated such abuses.

What has been missing is actual criminal investigations of each case by an seperate body, (leaving aside the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand report and a few national NGO reports), which is appropriatelty mandated and resourced. Impunity has to be addressed at all levels - those that directed that the killings take place and those that undertook the executions.

Yes of course. I'm not saying don't do anything about the police, although I expect no charges will go through. Just pointing out that Thaksin has gotten away scot free on this one so far. Kind of like hanging the guys who turned on the gas in the gas chambers and letting Hitler walk.

[CiaranM]

I don't understand your point mate? There is a wealth of material in relation to the human rights abuses committed under Thaksin and how his (not TRT) policies, directives and commentary facilitated such abuses.

What has been missing is actual criminal investigations of each case by an seperate body, (leaving aside the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand report and a few national NGO reports), which is appropriatelty mandated and resourced. Impunity has to be addressed at all levels - those that directed that the killings take place and those that undertook the executions.

Yes of course. I'm not saying don't do anything about the police, although I expect no charges will go through. Just pointing out that Thaksin has gotten away scot free on this one so far. Kind of like hanging the guys who turned on the gas in the gas chambers and letting Hitler walk.

unfortunately many thais (and farangs) seemed to think the war on drugs was a good idea !! :roll: :roll:

[Neo]

unfortunately many thais (and farangs) seemed to think the war on drugs was a good idea !! :roll: :roll:

Exactly. They assume that the police were attempting to actually wage war on drugs. And ruin such a profitable source of income? Even for the terminally naive it must seem a little suspicious that they suddenly knew where to find more than 2000 drug dealers. That's why Mr T needs to go to court for this one. It's a worse sham than his anti-corruption campaign.

[CiaranM]

unfortunately many thais (and farangs) seemed to think the war on drugs was a good idea !! :roll: :roll:

Exactly. They assume that the police were attempting to actually wage war on drugs. And ruin such a profitable source of income? Even for the terminally naive it must seem a little suspicious that they suddenly knew where to find more than 2000 drug dealers. That's why Mr T needs to go to court for this one. It's a worse sham than his ant-corruption campaign.

terminally naive or terminally dumb !!!

i mean i can understand ppl to a certain extent not caring about his less than scrupulous business dealings, but i am amazed that ppl don't seem to f**king care that this murdering scumbag was responsible for more than 2,000 ppl getting killed !!

[Oo.Cloud.oO]

i feel all drug wars are huge jokes

:?

[CiaranM]

i feel all drug wars are huge jokes

:?

i would guess the families of the thousands of poor buggers who got shot didn't see the funny side :!: :roll:

[PJack]

i feel all drug wars are huge jokes

:?

i would guess the families of the thousands of poor buggers who got shot didn't see the funny side :!: :roll:

and it was so much more than that. the thai war on drugs caught up so many innocent people who were associated with people who were selling, trafficing, or using that thai prisons have lots of people who arguably should not be there. I know several such stories. That the initiative killed thousands extra-judiciously is farily well known but there have been other effects as well.

[Mister Moobs]

Drugs should be legal.

Legislating morality is impossible. Just makes a criminal of average Joe who wants to smoke a joint or two every now and again.

Legalize it.

Tax it.

Earmark 50% of the Tax money for rehab and such and use the rest of the tax money for all of the other schemes that politicians use to enrich themselves....er, I mean for infrastructure.

[Mister Moobs]

Just exchange the names of locations, corporations and politicians. Same same but different...

[LakeGeneve]

I was really happy to read this article the other day. I was living in Bangkok at the time and remember reading the paper & feeling outraged that this boy had been shot without any accountability, not that there was much of that at all during that period.

The media was also fairly hopeless on this issue at the time but that was in the context of an increasing official pressure & censorship to limit any critical media reportage on the War on Drugs.

Police face charges in boy's murder case 24/07/2009 Bangkok Post

The public prosecutor has decided to indict three policemen accused of killing a nine-year-old boy during the Thaksin Shinawatra government's war on drugs.

Pol Snr Sgt Maj Pipat Saen-in, Pol Sgt Maj Panumas Chanakham and Pol Sgt Anusorn Thaensuwan, of Bang Chan police station, have been charged with murder and malfeasance in connection with the death of Chakkraphan Srisa-ard, better known as Nong Fluke.

The boy was killed when police opened fire on a car driven by his mother, Pornwipa Koedrungruang, who was fleeing a drug sting aimed at catching his father, Sathaporn Srisa-ard, on Feb 23, 2003. Chakkraphan was sleeping on the back seat of the car. Mrs Pornwipa fled from the car on foot and has not been heard of since.

The shooting happened near Saphan Khao market in Bangkok. Mr Sathaporn was arrested in the sting. Suwit Ditpae, head of the Department of Litigation, said attorney-general Chaikasem Nitisiri had endorsed the Department of Special Investigation's proposed indictments.

[Mister Moobs]

Just exchange the names of locations, corporations and politicians. Same same but different...

Who's the American hating piece of **** who posted all of this nonsense?

[Stramash]

at the risk of seeming rude, you're repeating yourself you banjo strumming sister loving hick!!!

[eagle]

Drug war doesn't work for some and then for others they get lots of prison labor and others get fines and money rolling in and then some keep hemp out of the agro industry. Hemp would put a major dent in many crops in which billions are at stake. Industry doesn't want hemp legal more then pot me thinks. You can grow pot for "medicating" but not so you can make a better rope, thats really odd

[eagle]

at the risk of seeming rude, you're repeating yourself you banjo strumming sister loving hick!!!

he has turned on himself eh" must be that Afghani hash

[Stramash]

Drug war doesn't work for some and then for others they get lots of prison labor and others get fines and money rolling in and then some keep hemp out of the agro industry. Hemp would put a major dent in many crops in which billions are at stake. Industry doesn't want hemp legal more then pot me thinks. You can grow pot for "medicating" but not so you can make a better rope, thats really odd

But that exclusion from the agro industry is at the root of the US's policy and vilification of hemp and marijuana. If Hearst had not owned all those thousands of timber acres and paper mills, and been threatened by hemp, a product with the same qualities as wood pulp but which could be regrown every year, then there would never have been the crusade in his newspapers, supporting the lies of that ass hole Anslinger, and the subsequent laws against both weed and hemp.

:twisted:

[maidai]

drugs are cool

for fools

Heavey drugs such as Herion, Meth, crack, etc... should stay illegal, more focus on monitary fines vs prison time.

[Stramash]

drugs are cool

for fools

Heavey drugs such as Herion, Meth, crack, etc... should stay illegal, more focus on monitary fines vs prison time.

definitely agree that there should be more emphasis on monetary punishment over jail time, certainly for users, though custody should still be the main punishment for supply or production. Also court imposed treatment programmes as part of any community disposal, with sanctions for non compliance.

I think few advocate out and out legalisation of all drugs; it is more about regulation, control and taxation, coupled with increased education and harm reduction programmes.

However, at some point, removing all illicit drugs from illegality may have to become an option.

It can work, on a small scale. Look at the examples of Switzerland and Portugal as examples of progressive drugs policies that DO work.

The US, however, presents difficulties, purely because of legislation at national and state levels. Would be difficult to imagine every state moving to systems such as the Swiss, which in turn would create 'drug tourism' as users gravitate to states with laxer laws.

[eagle]

Drug war doesn't work for some and then for others they get lots of prison labor and others get fines and money rolling in and then some keep hemp out of the agro industry. Hemp would put a major dent in many crops in which billions are at stake. Industry doesn't want hemp legal more then pot me thinks. You can grow pot for "medicating" but not so you can make a better rope, thats really odd

But that exclusion from the agro industry is at the root of the US's policy and vilification of hemp and marijuana. If Hearst had not owned all those thousands of timber acres and paper mills, and been threatened by hemp, a product with the same qualities as wood pulp but which could be regrown every year, then there would never have been the crusade in his newspapers, supporting the lies of that a*s hole Anslinger, and the subsequent laws against both weed and hemp.

:twisted:

no buts ,you hit it right on !!

[Stramash]

Drug war doesn't work for some and then for others they get lots of prison labor and others get fines and money rolling in and then some keep hemp out of the agro industry. Hemp would put a major dent in many crops in which billions are at stake. Industry doesn't want hemp legal more then pot me thinks. You can grow pot for "medicating" but not so you can make a better rope, thats really odd

But that exclusion from the agro industry is at the root of the US's policy and vilification of hemp and marijuana. If Hearst had not owned all those thousands of timber acres and paper mills, and been threatened by hemp, a product with the same qualities as wood pulp but which could be regrown every year, then there would never have been the crusade in his newspapers, supporting the lies of that a*s hole Anslinger, and the subsequent laws against both weed and hemp.

:twisted:

no buts ,you hit it right on !!

not forgetting that Hearst was basically Hitler's propaganda arm in the US, receiving close to half a million dollars a year from the Nazis as well as loans from Italian banks, and that Hearst's 'Nazi-friendly' portrayal of the events in Europe kept public opinion from favouring intervention.

All in all, a swell guy (to borrow a phrase I believe you chaps across the pond favour now and again)