Thaksin is human rights abuser of the worst kind : HRW

The leading international human rights group Thaksin is "a human rights abuser of the worst kind" and should not have passed the League's 'fit and proper person' test.

"Under any definition, I don't see how Thaksin can be fit and proper," HRW's Brad Adams told London-based BBC Sport. "I've written a letter to the Premier League asking what this test means."

Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadol Pattama, told BBC Sport that the allegations were completely unfounded.

"The civil and human rights charges against him have never been proven," said Noppadol.

"My client deserves to be treated as an innocent man, until proven guilty. So far there hasn't been any solid evidence against him."

The Premier League confirmed it has received the letter, but is yet to respond to it, BBC reported on Tuesday.

Amnesty International shares many of HRW's concerns and their spokesperson told BBC Sport: "Thaksin did preside over some very serious human rights violations.

"If the Premier League wants to take any of that into account when making their decisions, we're happy to make our documents available to them."

According to BBC, the allegations against Thaksin are that, during his time as Thai prime minister, he:

- Presided over extrajudicial killings during the notorious "war on drugs". HRW says 2,500 people were killed during one three-month period at the start of 2003.

- Told the Thai military to employ any means to suppress an insurgency in the south of Thailand.

- Suppressed the Thai media.

Thaksin's lawyer, Noppadol, countered: "As far as I am concerned, he (Thaksin) has never instructed any public officer to execute a drug dealer.

"We just tried to solve the drug problem in Thailand by getting tough with criminals. But he has never issued any instructions for shoot-to-kill policies.

"I hope Manchester City fans and British people are fair-minded. They should suspend their judgement before deciding Thaksin is not fit. He is a fit and proper man to run the club."

Prospective owners must pass a "fit and proper person test" before buying a Premier League football club.

This is basically a list of offences, which the prospective owner must not have been convicted of.  Thaksin passed this before completing his buy-out of City last month.