4 May 2017
1204
25th April 2017 Amnesty International Thailand activists gather in front of Embassy of the Philippines in Bangkok on 25th April 2017 to hand an open letter concerning the war on drugs which has been causing a numerous amount of deaths in the Philippines. The activists were presented at the Embassy in the Philippines’ national costume giving out some mangos to the participants and observers. The mangos were used to represented harmony and friendship between Thailand and the Philippines which the activists hope to convey the message in a friendly manner that their calls concerning the war on drugs is for the best interest of the people in both countries and the region. “Our concerns are based on our report “If you are poor, you are killed” Extrajudicial executions in the Philippines “War on Drugs” which was published on 31stJanuary 2017. Based on witness statements and corroborating documents including police reports and other information, Amnesty International concluded that the vast majority of the killings that we investigated appear to have been unlawful extrajudicial executions which carried out by government order or with its complicity and acquiescence,” Piyanut Kotsan, director of Amnesty International Thailand, said. Amnesty International report has shown that most of those whom have been killed are people from poor communities, making what is officially portrayed as the “war on drugs” a war on the poor. It has also had a devastating impact on children, who have been killed, harmed during police operations or experienced severe trauma as a result of losing a family member. Piyanut Kotsan stressed “the scales of alleged human rights violations are alarming. We are calling on the government of the Philippines to send a clear message to all law enforcement officials and the public in the Philippines that extrajudicial executions are unacceptable and strictly prohibited at all times. We also urge them to prioritize prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all drug related killings, particularly by law enforcement officials. And they must press criminal charges in any case where investigations uncover sufficient, admissible evidence of responsibility for offences involving human rights violations.” Apart from Amnesty International Thailand, during the 30th ASEAN Summit will be held in the Philippines between 26th-29th April 2017, Amnesty International in many countries are also submitting their open letters to the government of the Philippines to stop and investigate human rights violations in its war on drugs. More information please contact: NaowaratSuesa-ard, Media and Communication Coordinator E-mail: media@amnesty.or.th Mobile: 089-922-9585 LINE: nong539081