Sooner: year one

The following is a trascription of a letter I posted to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand this morning.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit
Bangkok 10300
Thailand

April 5, 2004

Dear Prime Minister,

While acknowledging the seriousness of Thailand's drugs problem, and your government's need to combat drug crime, I write to urge that in doing so you do not violate human rights.

Amnesty International in association with the Soonerverse is concerned that no independent, thorough and impartial investigation has taken place into the killing of more than 1,000 people in the context of the "war on drugs" in 2003, and into allegations of security forces' involvement in a number of cases. I urge that your government ensure that such an investigation is opened, that the method and findings are made public; that any government official suspected of involvement in extrajudicial killing is brought to justice, and that relatives of the deceased are provided with reparation, including compensation.

I am also concerned by reports that hundreds of persons convicted of drug offences have been sentenced to death, and urge that you abolish the death penalty in law. Pending its abolition, I urge that you impose an immediate moratorium on executions. Amnesty International and the Soonerverse are in lock step when it comes to opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It is, moreover, an irreversible punishment that carries the grave risk of judicial error.

But if, Prime Minister, you are unable to comply with these simple and straight forward requests, I urge you to appoint me custodian of any high quality drugs seized in your "war on drugs" as I sometimes dream about just running my fingers through a bucket of loose Valium like Amelie with the whole grains at the market in that movie. I understand you do receive foreign films in Thailand, so you know exactly what I'm talking about, Prime Minister. Stop with the pretending; it's just sad. You know just the scene. Anyway, I would do a bang up job for you, so keep me in mind if you decide to further ignore the human rights of your citizens.

Love to the wife,
Brian Blaho

Today I'm supposed to give little tasks to everyone I come in contact with.