DRUG WAR KILLINGS
Evidence to convict Thaksin 'is strong'
Kraisak calls for ICC to be ratified so ex-PM's crimes can be exposed 'internationally and at the highest level'
Human rights activists and lawyers are confident they have strong cases to prosecute the deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawa-tra on crimes against humanity for his role behind the killing of drug suspects and alleged Muslim insurgents from 2003 to 2006.
Former senator Kraisak Chonhavan told The Nation yesterday that so far, 40 families have come forward to file complaints with the National Commission on Human Rights (NHRC) about their loved ones who have either been killed or abducted since the beginning of 2003.
As part of his populist programme, the Thaksin government began an indiscriminate campaign to get rid of drug suspects through extra-judicial killings.
From February to April 2003, the Royal Thai Police Headquarters issued the death toll on a daily basis to show off their success in eradicating what they described as drugs pushers and sellers.
The campaign continued but without much media exposure in later years under the Thaksin regime - although the number often cited was about 2,300-2,500 deaths.
However, the number was much higher if those who were killed included the second campaign that started at the end of 2003 and ended around the first quarter of 2004.
According to informed sources, the "special force" belonging to the police literally killed every drug suspect or alleged Muslim insurgent who was blacklisted.
The police adamantly deny this.
In the past few years, the NHRC has painstakingly recorded in detail the killings in the South and elsewhere of families who want assistance. "I hope more people come forward because several thousand were killed," Kraisak said.
He said that since Thai criminal law does not deal with crimes against humanity, other ways must be found to prosecute Thaksin.
He urged the interim government to ratify the International Criminal Court (ICC) immediately with a retroactive clause so that the ICC can be allowed to look into the case.
"Thaksin's crimes must be exposed internationally and at the highest level," he said.
In the 21,000 "white papers" that are to be distributed to the public and diplomatic community, one of the justifications for the coup against Thaksin was rampant violations of human rights inside the country, especially in the South. Throughout his administration, Thaksin advocated the use of force against drug suspects and insurgents.
Kraisak said there could be a separate committee formed to work exclusively to investigate the extra-judicial killings in the near future as in the cases of two anti-corruption committees.
The Ministry of Justice has been informed of these moves. Positive signals were given to human rights activist and lawyers that this was probably the best case to prosecute Thaksin for his numerous criminal activities.