PM defends DNA collection in deep South

[webfact]

PM defends DNA collection in deep South

By Chularat Saengpassa, 
Nattapat Promkaew 
The Nation

 

file photo : Officials collect DNA samples from military conscripts in Yala’s Yaha district earlier this month.

 

Rights foundation hits back, saying it is a clear violation of human rights, data can be misused.

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that DNA samples were being collected from Army conscripts in the restive South for national security, and denied it was a violation of their rights. 

 

“Everyone understands and is cooperating. The procedure is on a voluntary basis. It is meant for the national security database, as these people will only be part of the armed forces for two years,” the premier told reporters yesterday. 

 

General Prayut was responding to the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)’s call for the authorities to stop collecting DNA samples and destroy the ones already taken from conscripts in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, as well as from Songkhla’s four districts of Chana, Thepha, Saba Yoi and Na Thawi.

 

Prayut said this is the first time that DNA samples are being collected and that it will be done in the Deep South first before it is expanded to other regions. 

 

However, the foundation’s director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet said the collection of DNA samples violated people’s right to physical autonomy and privacy. Citing CrCF’s statement on April 9, she said her group believes it is the government’s duty to solve the unrest in the South and bring the perpetrators to justice. In order to achieve these goals, the state needs to gain trust and cooperation from local people, which will only be possible if it respects people’s rights and operates lawfully, the CrCF statement said. 

 

The DNA collection – which has caused anxiety among locals and will eventually deplete trust – subjected the conscripts to unfair discrimination and perpetuated negative stereotypes of them as potential insurgents and perpetrators of armed violence, the CrCF statement read.

 

Pornpen said the CrCF will demand an explanation from the Fourth Army Region chief of the real reasons and the laws and regulations used to back the action. 

 

She added that these DNA samples can also be misused against their owners. “Does this mean that the Army can say I have your DNA samples, so whatever you do, I can arrest you?” she asked. 

 

“If DNA samples have to be collected, then the authorities should do collect them from all conscrips, not just the ones in the deep South,” she said, adding that she will speak to rights advocates to see if anyone has been affected by the procedure. 

 

Pornpen said a pro-military Facebook page claimed 19,410 men had filled out a consent form from April 1 to 8 and volunteered to donate a sample, while only 49 refused to do so. 

 

The annual military drafting was held from April 1 to 12. 

 

The page claimed the DNA collection was part of the 10th Police Forensic Science Centre’s ongoing project to develop a database in the deep South. 

National Human Rights Commission member Angkhana Neelapaijit said DNA samples must be provided voluntarily and not under coercion, as the men were not crime suspects. 

 

They must also be informed about the impact the DNA sampling can have on their right to privacy, she said, adding that DNA can reveal a person’s risk of hereditary ailments. 

 

Angkhana also wondered how these samples will be stored and what measures will be taken to ensure confidentiality. 

 

Earlier, Yala special task force deputy chief Colonel Chalat Sriwichien had said that DNA tests were key in establishing links and identifying suspects in national security cases.

 

“Refusing to give DNA samples doesn’t mean you are a wrongdoer. You have the choice to say no, but as national security officials, we may wonder about the reasons for not wanting to undergo the test,” Chalat said. 

 

DNA samples were taken from rangers and defence volunteers in the deep South and their guns registered so the authorities can check if the claims of violence reportedly perpetrated by state officials was true or false, Chalat added. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367851

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-18

[Puchaiyank]

You have the choice to say no, but as national security officials, we may wonder about the reasons for not wanting to undergo the test.

 

Those refusing test will be targeted as suspect in any future crimes in their area...

[stanleycoin]

Give it a few years and this will be part of the retirement extension

merry go round. 

[faraday]

"Everyone understands and is cooperating. The procedure is on a voluntary basis."

 

Then.

 

"The DNA collection – which has caused anxiety among locals"

 

Voluntary, oh yes absolutely.

 

 

[gk10002000]

Just now, stanleycoin said:

Give it a few years and this will be part of the retirement extension

merry go round. 

I would not be surprised by that at all.  "for your own safety and to aid identification in case of emergency.. " or some other such logic.  DNA is a powerful tool, but it can, has and will be abused and misused.

[faraday]

3 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Give it a few years and this will be part of the retirement extension

merry go round. 

And a DRE.....

 

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Everyone understands and is cooperating. The procedure is on a voluntary basis. It is meant for the national security database, as these people will only be part of the armed forces for two years,” the premier told reporters yesterday. 

goes right to the heart of his credibility and intelligence

[malagateddy]

Give it a few years and this will be part of the retirement extension
merry go round. 

As a retiree living here..I have an ID Card..my thumbprints were taken at my local Amphur..no problem whatsoever as I have nothing to hide.
Ps..I wish that my home country..the UK..had a mandatory ID Card policy.
Cheers

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Chang_paarp]

The correct response should be "This is so we can identify the body parts following explosions."

[rkidlad]

9 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

As a retiree living here..I have an ID Card..my thumbprints were taken at my local Amphur..no problem whatsoever as I have nothing to hide.
Ps..I wish that my home country..the UK..had a mandatory ID Card policy.
Cheers

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I don’t. If i wanna go out without any form of ID, I will. Again, if you’ve done nothing wrong.....

[holy cow cm]

Maybe just the first step before DNA samples are requested from all Thai, long term visa holders and official residents. For the most part there certainly isn't any clear freedom of movement here as everyone has to be registered to a place, especially the foreigners..

[stanleycoin]

1 hour ago, malagateddy said:

As a retiree living here..I have an ID Card..my thumbprints were taken at my local Amphur..no problem whatsoever as I have nothing to hide.
Ps..I wish that my home country..the UK..had a mandatory ID Card policy.
Cheers

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I do believe that sort of thinking got Germany in a bit of a pickle 

many years ago.

21 years, never needed an id card or yellow book or what ever other useless stuff you think you need. 

 

But hey, if they ever want my DNA, i will just drop off my underpants,  on there desk when requested. 

 

The uk is a lost cause now, way  to late to put it right.

Just look whose in the line going into the uk, at Heathrow airport with uk passports. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2019 by stanleycoin

[yellowboat]

The US military collects DNA from its soldiers I believe.   It is used mostly for body identification if I am not mistaken.  

 

Conscripts are a waste the country just does not need.  Countries with substantial threats stopped the practice.  Thailand and no threats other than the army itself.   

 

 

[Ulic]

I am surprised that it's not done at birth here in Thailand or collected for when you apply for your Thai ID card.