Thaksin's antidrugs campaign killed more than 2,500 people in 2003, the group said. Harsh handling and violence in the South has seen the deaths of more than 1,000 people since the beginning of 2004. The 2005 Emergency Law has violated the basic rights of the people as it gives officials more freedom to arrest and detain suspects, the group said.

During Thaksin's administration there have been reports of surveillance and harassment of some human rights defenders, particularly those who work on issues related to violence in the South. In March 2004, prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit was abducted in Bangkok after his disclosure of torture of his clients who were accused of violence in the South, and he is now presumed dead.

Media freedom and protection of refugees are also problematic in Thailand, the letter to Annan said.

The group called on Annan to urge the government to review the antidrugs campaign and stop the implementation of any programme that would lead to extrajudicial killings in the future. They also called for the emergency law to be abolished and for a review of the practices of the police and state authorities in dealing with the southern violence, as well as for respect, promotion and fulfilment of all five key international human rights instruments.