BANGKOK, Thailand - In just three weeks, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s anti-drugs crusade - which he dubbed “an-eye-for-eye” — has resulted in the deaths of 600 people suspected of invovlment in the drugs trade. The prime minister promising to rid the country of what he says is the greatest threat to Thai society, says the war on drugs needs to be fought with a firm hand. Amnesty in a statement said the anti-drugs campaign is “a big step backwards” for human rights in Thailand.

“If I find provincial governors who can’t meet the government target, I will send someone else to replace them,” warned Thaksin. The Thai government has issued a national list of about 46,000 suspected drug traffickers, and police claim that to date they have arrested more than 15,000 suspected traffickers.

(via CNN)