Thailand's prime minister faced a barrage of criticism yesterday following the assassination of a leading environmentalist -- the 16th activist to be murdered during his reign.
Charoen Wattaksorn, 37, was fatally shot by an unidentified assailant in the southern Prachuab Khiri Khan province Monday, hours after he testified before a parliamentary committee investigating corruption in a land deal involving a scrapped power project.
The killing sparked widespread outrage with critics accusing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration of turning a blind eye to attacks against civic activists.
At least 16 human rights workers, environmentalists, farming advocates and other activists have been killed since Thaksin took power three-and-a-half years ago.
"This is the first time in history that at least 16 activists have been killed during the reign of one government," opposition Senator Niran Pitakwatch said. "The government must do something ... otherwise people will live in a state of fear like a police state."
He said if authorities don't crack down immediately on those responsible for the killings, it will encourage "local influential figures to conspire brazenly to kill."
The independent Thai Post newspaper described the killings of the 16 as a "black period'' in Thailand's history.
Thaksin yesterday hailed Charoen as "a brave man who fought for the interest of public," and said he had ordered the police to investigate the killing.
But critics dismissed his comments.
"It is obvious that the lives of ordinary people who have a conflict with influential figures or who obstruct any development project are at a risk," said Pairoj Polpetch, secretary general of the Civil Liberty Union.
Thaksin has long been criticized for his administration's handling of human rights abuses.
Last year, the prime minister declared war on drugs, but the campaign left about 2,500 people dead. The government dismissed allegations of extra-judicial slayings by police, insisting most victims were drug gang members killed in internecine fighting.
Meanwhile, Charoen's wife, Korn-uma, told reporters that if the government does not catch her husband's killer within 100 days she will cremate his body in front of the Government House in Bangkok.
"Sixteen activists have already killed during the reign of this government. They should not die in vain," she said.
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