Thailand claims success in war on drugs, but deaths raise alarm
Thailand claims success in war on drugs, but deaths raise alarm
Agence France-Presse, Bangkok
Thailand said on Wednesday its 19-day crackdown on drugs is
reaping rewards, but any successes are being overshadowed by the
nearly 600 deaths in the campaign and accusations of extra-
judicial killings.
Six government ministries reviewing the anti-drugs campaign
launched on Feb. 1 said trafficking was being curbed, corrupt
officials were being identified and thousands of addicts and
peddlers were surrendering.
"They agreed it had progressed well... the trafficking has
slowed down and the addicts have reported themselves for
rehabilitation," Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) deputy
secretary general Chartchai Suthiklom told AFP.
But it is the staggering death toll of 596 people killed in
the campaign that has claimed most attention in this war on
drugs.
The interior ministry said Tuesday police had killed eight
people in self-defense and another 588 were traffickers killed by
other drug gang members.
This is the latest toll released by the authorities, with some
commentators saying the figures appeared to be fluid and could
eventually be revised downwards.
Human rights groups have expressed increasing concern about
the death toll, with many questioning how there could be no
arrests for the alleged killings among traffickers.
Diplomats on Wednesday warned that Thailand's brutal war on
drugs, in which nearly 600 suspects have been killed, could turn
into a "slaughter" prompting international condemnation if
authorities are unable or unwilling to stem the violence.
"At the outset, Thaksin's (Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's) objective was rather laudable, but then we were
stupefied when we discovered the tolls," one diplomat told AFP.
"If the toll is really between 400 and 600 dead now, and if it
goes on like that, it is going to be a slaughter which will have
considerable national and international consequences."
The premier has had a free hand in dictating the scope of the
campaign against traffickers, but diplomats and other analysts
say he may soon come under increasing pressure to explain his
policies.
"European Union countries are looking into the matter," a
second diplomat said.
"There are strong reservations (by the EU), especially on
extra-judicial killings, which is a very sensitive matter,
particularly for the Nordic states."
Amnesty International has said authorities should send a clear
signal that extra-judicial killings should not be tolerated.
Chartchai said the deaths were "not an issue" as up to 600
people were killed in Thailand every day, even when the drugs
crackdown was not in operation. Thaksin has said police
involvement in the killings would be investigated.