Thai NRC panel to help political detainees of last decade

[webfact]

NRC panel to help political detainees of last decade
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Reform Council's panel on reconciliation plans to assist people detained in connection with political cases arising from 10 years of political conflict, NRC member Boonlert Kachayudhadej said yesterday.

He said the panel had met with Department of Corrections director-general Withaya Suriyawong to consult with him over the move to bring about reconciliation through the justice system as the department was the last stop of the judicial system.

He asked Withaya for permission to visit political prisoners and detainees jailed across the country since 2005, with the director general agreeing to provide their names and whereabouts.

He said Withaya had told him the prisoners and detainees from the provinces were being detained at their hometowns.

Boonlert said the director-general was ready to support the panel in the process, although it would be up to each prisoner or detainee to decide if they wanted a visit.

Treatment will differ

Withaya also agreed that detainees in political cases were those who committed offences based on political motivation and ideologies and should be treated differently from those who committed other crimes.

Boonlet said the panel would on Tuesday visit the Department of Special Investigation and on Thursday visit the Supreme Court president to consult them about ways to bring about national reconciliation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NRC-panel-to-help-political-detainees-of-last-deca-30253977.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-13

[siampolee]

On the face of it, it would seem as if there is a move to assist those pawns of the politicians,many of those pawns were and still are incarcerated in prison and ignored by their old paymasters.

A positive move although no doubt there will be and perhaps has to be some selectivity as to who may be released dependent no doubt on actions and damage caused..

[issanaus]

Putting aside that the devil is in the detail or as is often the case here - the standard of translation and political stance of the writer ...

This could be a very positive move as the usual situation in Thailand the pawns are punished while the leaders are free to enjoy their freedom. One of the things that it would be good to see is that the South African model of truth and reconciliation be applied. The victims of political crimes are also a necessary part of any reconciliation and truth may be the only justice that they get.

When the Thai people took to the streets in response to the Amnesty Bill and before the issue was hijacked by the PRDC there were protestors from Isaan and other "red" areas. The issue for those I know who fall into that category was that their friends and relatives were been held hostage by the Yingluck government for the benefit of the Shin Family.

One of the questions that arises is what is a political prisoner and where is the distinction to be drawn between an offence committed for political reasons and an offence committee for personal gain using politics as a cover. In this regard the negative comments that are often made about the Thais from the north (stupid, uneducated ...) may come back to haunt those from the PRDC side of politics as it would assist those people in arguing that they were/are the victims of political manipulation.

What will be interesting will be to see what the cut-off dates are and any effect that this proposal will have on cases that have not yet been heard or are subject to appeal.

Edited February 13, 2015 by issanaus

[FangFerang]

"Treatment will differ"

No doubt....

[CiaranO]

"Treatment will differ"

No doubt....

Agreed- Reds get longer sentences - Yellows get out

[DoctorG]

There should be no such thing as a "political prisoner" in a supposedly free country.

Either you committed a crime, or you did not.

[Thailand]

Amnesty not out of the question? Lol

[rickirs]

This is great news. It's not like political prisoners (in jail 10 years they are not "detainees") can give themselves amnesty like the Junta can.

I'd better like to see the NRC recommend checks and balances on the military to prevent its repeated abuse of the nation's sovereignty and suspension of Thai civil rights and liberties. But of course the Junta-appointed NLA/NRC must abide by the NCPO agenda which I am sure does not include limiting its power.