Physical Abuse By Local Police Station Members

[eutin45]

I could not find any section on thai visa that would discuss this issue: Please advise where this will be posted.

During my absence my Thai wife was physically abused and mistreated by members of the local police force who were in uniform (Human rights violation by a state official which is a crime in Thailand).

Where do you go to file a complaint. Obviously we cannot go to the same police office in that town and not in the next town as they will cover for each other. Can we report it to the DSI (Department of Special Investigation) and where are they located in Issaan or only in Bkk. As this was a human rights violation, where do we get in touch with the Campaign for Human Rights. What will a lawyer do?

Any help. Eutin 45

[ubonjoe]

The DSI's cases are assigned to it by a committee so they are not an option.

I think you need to go to the highest level of police near you. That would be the provincial police office in most areas.

What province did this occur in?

[opalhort]

Could the website of the National Human Rights Commission (Thailand) be a starting point for the OP?

NHRC(TH)

opalhort

[ubonjoe]

I just delelted the 2nd off topic reply that has been posted.

Please do not post unless you have a suggestion that is helpfull.

[Mario2008]

ASince it is the plice you are dealing with I would advise getting help from someone with influance, like a local politician. There are also some woman rights groups in Thailand which also might be of some assistence. Trouble with the police is a serious matter, be careful.

[opalhort]

As ubonjoe said, the DSI is not an option.

Going to a 'higher-up' police station in the province is possible but VERY risky.

As Mario mentioned, dealing with complaints about police abuse, can be dangerous!!

The link I provided above also has a Thai version which provides many more details about how to deal with situations of this kind.

I would not go to any police station to file a complaint about police at any other police station.

opalhort

edit: Question to the OP: did the abused person obtain a doctor's certificate stating that abuse did occur?

This will almost certainly be required for any complaint filing.

Edited May 23, 2009 by opalhort

[Tywais]

Pavena Foundation for Children and Women

Address

Pavena Foundation for Children and Women

1047 - 51 Pon Luang Complex

Soi AmpornPhan 12, Moo 7

Phaholythin Road, Klong Tanon, BangKhen

Bangkok 10220

Thailand

Contact Information

If calling from Thailand:

Tel: 972 5489 90

Pavena Foundation

[Junglejumbo]

According to the Human rights commission in Thailand you will need:

1. Medical examination immediately following physical abuse;

2. Records of any contact with the outside whilst she was in police custody, i.e. phone calls that could establish her location plus witnesses on the other end of the phone

3. Ideally, witnesses of any type such as other people who were being held

4. Names of police officers involved.

5. Laws that may not have been followed such as provisions for lawyers to be present or other persons.

Without either the medical report or the witnesses you're probably wasting your time.

[BigSnake]

How do you mean physical abuse? Slap, kick hit(?) You might want to start with a lawyer or the tourist police. Not knowing ALL the details of your wife case it is very difficult to make suggestion on your course of action, i.e., best bet lawyer or someone you can give the full details to in person. Example: were she arrested, were she a witiness to something, etc etc. Whatever the case check it out to the Max, no ONE, and in the lease a Lady should be abuse by the police or anyone for that matter.

[Orion76]

Like others have already said, there has to be some evidence of physical injury with a doctors certificate and photographs of the injury dated immediately after the incident, as well as a witness who saw the abuse take place. Otherwise it's her word against theirs and she has no case.

The best way to deal with police is if you know someone in a powerful position that has the ability to cause problems for them, but quite frankly even if you do have evidence and the right connections you would be well advised to leave this matter alone.

Imagine if you'd be able to do something about this and the officers were demoted or lost their jobs over this..... if they physically abused her for no reason imagine what they will do to her when they have a serious reason to take revenge.

Life is cheap in Thailand...

[surayu]

This article from The Nation shed some light on what this Human Right Commission really is, the article is really self explanatory and somehow explain why so many people see no other ways to fix a problem, other than the "thai way", if local authorities fail to protect the interests of the single individuals and the community then it's either a "leave it as it is" or "diy" kind of situation, the local consumers protection organisation seems to be no better than them too, welcome to the wild wild east....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/rea...ord=human+right