The shooting of village headman and forestry poacher opponent Supol Sirichan on August 11 prompted two dozen villagers from his native Lampang province in the north to travel to Bangkok to protest.

The villagers demanded Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration find and arrest the masterminds of Supol's murder on August 11, combat runaway corruption and protect activists who cooperated with officials.

They outlined their demands in a letter handed to the Thai Senate's committee on human development and security.

Committee chairman senator Nirun Phitakwatchara said they believed the headman was killed because he tipped off officials about illegal logging.

"The government should find measures to prevent further killings," Nirun told AFP.

Supol, 58, had been a vociferous opponent of powerful figures involved in illegal forestry clearance that has plagued Thailand's up-country regions for years.

Lampang police chief Major General Teerasak Chukijkun said the murder could be linked to his helping police with information about forest poachers.

Prior to Supol's murder, Nirun said 16 other village leaders, environmental and human rights activists had been shot dead since Thaksin took office in

Charoen Wadaksorn, a prominent conservationist who had tenaciously investigated high-level corruption in land deals, was gunned down by unknown assailants in June.

The killing infuriated a country weary of corruption, and sparked demonstrations that forced the premier to take a personal interest in the case. Four men reportedly have been arrested in connection with Charoen's murder and are awaiting trial.

Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun claimed in June that corruption was becoming so widespread in Thailand that it could ruin the country.

Nine out of ten Thais believe corruption is rampant at the national level, according to a survey.

TERRA.WIRE