20 April 2001 :

The execution by firing squad of five convicts on April 18 drew a sharp rebuke from local and international human rights groups, who described the death penalty as a violent and misguided means of solving crime.
"It is outrageous for the new Thaksin government to flaunt its tough anti-drugs stance by executing people. The death penalty provides no solution to growing crime rates," Amnesty International said in a statement."Instead it entrenches a culture of violence in society."
Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the Senate foreign affairs committee, said: "I disagree with the executions. I suggest that the government conduct a referendum to sound out what people think, to see if such a highly-publicised execution, which treats human beings like animals, is the right thing to do."