By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Prime Minster Samak Sundaravej vowed to relaunch the country’s war on drugs despite its past connections to more than 2,500 extrajudicial killings. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej stated, “We will pursue a suppression campaign rigorously. There will be consequences [to drug use].” The Prime Minister said the government would not be deterred by allegations that extrajudicial killings were being committed by the police. Interior Minster Chalerm Yubamrung, a former police captain, supported the Prime Minister when he said that he would adopt Thaksin’s approach in his anti-drug campaign even if “thousands of people have to die. When we implement a policy that may bring 3,000 to 4,000 bodies, we will do it.”

Soon after Thailand’s announcement, human rights groups warned that the country may be heading down a similar path as the anti-drug campaign launched by ousted Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003. During the original campaign, there were allegations that police were forced to create lists of suspects to be targeted, and police officers included innocent persons on them. Human rights groups also alleged that nearly 2,500 extrajudicial killing occurred during the first “war on drugs.” The Thai government, however, blames most of the deaths on inter-gang warfare.

The Thai government responded to claims of innocent deaths and extrajudicial killings. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej denied that innocent persons had died. He asked reporters, “If they were innocent, why were they killed?” Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej also denied that numerous persons were killed by police. He said, “I have no doubt that 2,500 people were killed. It could even be 5,000, but what can the government do when they are killing each other? If police killed someone, then we would call that an extra-judicial killing. There are only 59 such cases, and the police are standing trial for those deaths.”

The Thai government recently arrested anti-drug police for their actions during the original war on drugs. In late January, the government arrested Captain Nat Chonnithiwanit and seven other members of the 41st Border Patrol Police unit for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, forced intrusion, threatening others with weapons, detaining others, and abducting minors under the age of 15. Thus far, 61 complaints have been filed with the Justice Ministry, alleging that the 41^st Border Patrol Police have abducted and tortured them to extract confessions. Victims alleged that they have been electrocuted, suffocated with plastic bags, and severely beaten.

Despite the arrests and the complaints, Human Rights Watch [HRW] questions the Thailand government’s commitment to prosecuting police officers accused of extrajudicial killings. The Royal Police has praised Captain Nat Chonnithiwanit for several years for his service as a role model. Also, Police General Seriphisut Temiyavej, national police commissioner-general, has recently threatened to take legal action against anyone who makes false complaints against police officers. Police General Seriphisut Temiyavej also stated that he does not believe that extrajudicial killings are more than 50 or 60.

Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, responded to the recent statements by the Police General, “Thailand’s national police commissioner-general should be encouraging victims to come forward, not threatening them with legal action. Seriphisut’s threats against victims of police abuse further fuel this vicious cycle of abuses and impunity.”

For more information, please see,

Bangkok Post – PM Prepares to Revive War on Drugs – 22 February 2008

HRW – Thailand: Prosecute Anti-Drug Police Identified in Abuses – 7 February 2008

Reuters – Thai PM Vows Rigorous War on Drugs Despite Outcry – 22 February 2008

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Jacques Verges, the lawyer for Khieu Samphan, has said that his client will no longer cooperate with the Khmer Rouge Tribunalbecause thousands of pages of evidence had yet to be translated to French. Jacques Verges stated that without the translation, he is unable to effectively defend his client. The court documents are in English only thus far.

Tribunal co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde told AFP that other suspects have invoked their right to “remain silent at every stage of the proceedings.” However, Marcel Lemonde said that it would not delay the court’s investigation into the crimes. In an email, he said, “We have to organize the investigation differently, that’s it.”

Jacques Verges has been nicknamed “devil’s advocate” because of his past work defending the world’s most notorious criminals. During his legal career, he has defended Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, also known as Carlos the Jackal.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Khmer Rouge Leader Halts Cambodian Genocide Court Cooperation: Report – 20 February 2008

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Jacques Verges, the lawyer for Khieu Samphan, has said that his client will no longer cooperate with the Khmer Rouge Tribunalbecause thousands of pages of evidence had yet to be translated to French. Jacques Verges stated that without the translation, he is unable to effectively defend his client. The court documents are in English only thus far.

Tribunal co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde told AFP that other suspects have invoked their right to “remain silent at every stage of the proceedings.” However, Marcel Lemonde said that it would not delay the court’s investigation into the crimes. In an email, he said, “We have to organize the investigation differently, that’s it.”

Jacques Verges has been nicknamed “devil’s advocate” because of his past work defending the world’s most notorious criminals. During his legal career, he has defended Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, also known as Carlos the Jackal.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Khmer Rouge Leader Halts Cambodian Genocide Court Cooperation: Report – 20 February 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- Pakistan held parliamentary elections on Monday in what was called a free and fair process by the media and the international community.  The Pakistan People’s Party (formerly led byBenazir Bhutto) won the most parliamentary seats with 86, and Nawaz Sharif’s party came in as a strong second with 65.

President Pervez Musharraf‘s party won the least amount of seats with 37.  This loss shows that voters no longer believe in the party’s policies and raises doubts over whether or not Musharraf will be able to maintain power for much longer.

Although some critics have doubts over whether they will be able to reach an agreement, the opposition parties have stated that they will form a coalition government.  As it won the most seats, the Pakistan People’s Party will choose the new prime minister.  Benazir Bhutto‘s widower, Asif Ali Zardari, who is now leading the party, has said he will not accept the position and instead his party will pick another MP.

President Musharraf has accepted his party’s defeat and has called for reconciliation amongst the parties.  He has rejected any suggestion that he should step down as President.  As this was a parliamentary election it does not effect the President’s position; however if the parliament reached a two-thirds majority decision, it could remove Musharraf from office in the future.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Bhutto widower ‘rejects PM role’ – 20 February 2008

Reuters – Musharraf urged to go as rivals win Pakistan poll – 19 February 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – A former laid-off factory worker, Yang Chunlin was involved with farmers outside Jiamusi demanding redress for farmland taken from them by officials for development. He collected more than 10,000 signatures for his petition against illegal land seizures by officials and writing essays denouncing official wrongdoings.  To rally support, he posted the petition on the Internet with the title: “We want human rights, not the Olympics.”

Yang was arrested in July 2007 for charges of “inciting subversion against state power.” In recent months, Human Rights Watch has documented the use of similar charges against six other dissidents and activists, indicating a trend of suppressing speech in advance of the August 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

According to Yang’s family, in eight months in detention, Yang has been given little contact with his lawyer and family.  He was tortured by being shackled to an iron bed for a long period of time while in detention awaiting trial.  Police were accused of intimidating his relatives and threatening his lawyers prior to the trial.  However, Human Rights Watch said it was unable to verify the claim but also said the use of the so-called shackle boards or “disciplinary beds” was well documented in Chinese prisons.

The case was originally scheduled to take place behind closed doors.  But the Intermediate Court decided to open the trial to the public mainly due to Chinese government’s fear of bad publicity related to the Olympics.  Human Rights Watch repeatedly reported, grave and uncorrected procedural violations throughout Yang’s case that amounted to a denial of due process.  Those included serious allegation of torture and the court’s refusal of investigation, denial of access to his defense lawyer, police intimidation against relatives, and threats made against the defense lawyers.

The trial of Yang on February 19 lasted less than a day.  About 30 to 40 people attended the trial, including members of Yang’s family.  Yang appeared at the court hearing with his hands and feet shackled.  After his lawyers protested, Yang was unshackled but then made to sit with his legs tied to a metal chair.  Yang and his lawyer pleaded not guilty.  A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – China: Olympic Activist Deprived of Due Process – 19 February 2008

The International Herald Tribune – Chinese land rights activist who opposed Olympics goes on trial – 19 February 2008

AFP – Activist who spoke out against Olympics stands trial – 19 February 2008

Associated Press – China Land Rights Activist Goes on Trial – 19 February 2008