Witness of 2010 temple crackdown deaths 'abducted by military'

[webfact]

Witness of 2010 Temple Crackdown Deaths 'Abducted by Military'
By Khaosod English


A photo of Nattathida Meewangpla provided by her family. She has not been seen since 11 March when alleged soldiers arrested her at her home.

BANGKOK – A volunteer nurse who witnessed the killing of two fellow medics by soldiers in a Bangkok temple during the crackdown on Redshirt protests in 2010 has been abducted from her home by security officers, according to her family.

Nattathida Meewangpla was taken from her residence in Samut Prakarn province at around 3.30 pm on 11 March, her relatives told Khaosod yesterday.

According to her cousin, Nattathida received a phone call from men who said they wanted to visit her home and discuss a possible land purchase. However, the potential buyers turned out to be two soldiers and three plain-clothed security officers, who arrived at Nattathida's house and ordered her to come with them for interrogation.

The soldiers said they didn’t need a warrant to detain Nattathida because they were acting under martial law, according to Nattathida’s cousin, who asked not to be identified by name. Under martial law, which was imposed by the ruling junta last May, the military may detain individuals without charges for up to seven days.

Nattathida has not been heard from since the arrest, her relatives say.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1426487187&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2015-03-16

[Anthony5]

She is for her free speech attitude adjustment, by the people who claim to return Thailand to a democracy

[jdinasia]

She is for her free speech attitude adjustment, by the people who claim to return Thailand to a democracy

Oh?

You appear to know more than the reporter.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out .

[grantbkk]

If she was abducted is a huge story and possibly a tragedy in the making. The murders at the temple were inexcusable and the people responsible have never been brought to justice.

[Anthony5]

She is for her free speech attitude adjustment, by the people who claim to return Thailand to a democracy

Oh?

You appear to know more than the reporter.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out .

Stop being an apologist for everything that has to do with Thai government, you have made your point in the Koh Tao threads already

[96tehtarp]

Although I'm an apostate, I'll pray for her well-being.

[zaphod reborn]

We can always use the red-shirt argument. "She was abducted by red-shirts, masquerading as soldiers, in order to discredit the junta". Turnabout is fair play.

Who knows what happened here, or at the temple back in 2010. The only way the truth would ever be discovered is to have an international inquiry, and that will never happen. Any Thai inquiry into the events of 2010 would suffer from bias.

[phutoie2]

If I was the cousin maybe best to go on a holiday before being hauled in next. If this has any ounce of truth it stinks.

[ExPratt]

This woman seems to know what happened hence her disappearance

[The manic]

The poor thing must be really scared now. There is not a junta in the world that does not casually resort to torturing people and disappearing them if they feel threatened.

[greenchair]

I feel so sad for the Thai at the moment.

It doesn't matter which way the people turn. Whoever is in power continue to abuse the people.

Hope she gets home safe and sound very quickly.

She should follow the b2.

I was drunk, I can't remember,

I saw nothing.

[bkkcanuck8]

She is for her free speech attitude adjustment, by the people who claim to return Thailand to a democracy

If she is lucky she is in for an attitude adjustment, if she is not.... we may never know what happened to her.... they will say those were not military and they don't know who they were....

[Gunna]

If you read the full article there are a number of anomalies

eg

"We have been too afraid to tell the police."

But happy to go to one newspaper.

And none of the other newspaper have published the story so far.

Try Googling her name and it doesn't appear other than this story

[bkkcanuck8]

If you read the full article there are a number of anomalies

eg

"We have been too afraid to tell the police."

But happy to go to one newspaper.

And none of the other newspaper have published the story so far.

Try Googling her name and it doesn't appear other than this story

There was a porn producer in Thailand that was arrested to great fanfare.... then suddenly all the stories disappeared as the newspapers were told to remove them.... (this was before absolute rule).

[off road pat]

Like every political tainted story, everything is possible. So I would not jump into conclusions until there is more information available....!!!

just my two bit worth....

[rubl]

Googling? Well, Yahooing "thailand temple deaths witness" gave me

2013-03-23 BangkokPost with a wittness called Abhisit Saengkaew from Ubon Ratchathani saying he saw armed men fighting against the military in front of the temple. There's also mention he was 'nervous' questioned by lawyers for the victims.

-- BP, cannot quote, cannot provide link

-- cannot find more about this Abhisit or his statement

2010-12-10

"One witness said he saw five or six unknown men on the road in front of the temple, dressed in black and carrying rifles. He said they shot and killed one of his co-workers and burned his body."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/10/us-thailand-security-factbox-idUSTRE6B91VD20101210

-- note, the 'burned body' seems to have vanished from the picture completely. I can't remember having read about it in the HRW report.

This only to show that 'both' sides have said and stated a lot, but some of those 'statements' have never been followed up. Somehow

Edited March 16, 2015 by rubl

[jdinasia]

Like every political tainted story, everything is possible. So I would not jump into conclusions until there is more information available....!!!

just my two bit worth....

I would expect news in the next 24 hours.

[SpeedFreakz]

rip

[lewy67]

This is the method of operation of military/police/government authority when dealing with those who saw what they should not have seen and those who know what should not be known in third world countries with totalitarian governments. Nothing new here.

[tbthailand]

If you read the full article there are a number of anomalies

eg

"We have been too afraid to tell the police."

But happy to go to one newspaper.

And none of the other newspaper have published the story so far.

Try Googling her name and it doesn't appear other than this story

as I saw the thread pop up, I wondered how junta cheerleaders would spin this forced disappearance, ... good job...

[tbthailand]

The poor thing must be really scared now. There is not a junta in the world that does not casually resort to torturing people and disappearing them if they feel threatened.

In Thailand there is no need for a junta for that. Speaking out against 'influencial peoples' interest can already be life threatening.

Didn't we have a topic a few days ago about "late Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Nilapaichit" who disappeared 11 years ago?

BTW as the last weeks we have seen more topics on 'fake' soldiers, I will refrain from further speculating till more info is provided.

you state that as if it is not understood which "party" in Thailand is the most likely to have abducted Somchai...

do you know which group of people that would most likely be?

[dominique355]

If I remember well, it was found by a court that the victims in the Wat were definitely shot by the military.

So, always ask "qui bono" in such a case: who could profit from such an abduction?

[smedly]

I don't believe this story, it would depend on what exactly what she witnessed - I still maintain that those who fled into the temple were carrying assault rifles and had just been engaged in a fire fight with soldiers - as a witness she could have testified and verified that armed men were present - she is either dead or is living in hiding in a neighbouring country and has been told to keep her mouth shut

[smedly]

She is for her free speech attitude adjustment, by the people who claim to return Thailand to a democracy

don't be so sure you have your facts right, I'd be more inclined to blame elements of the terrorist redshirts for this abduction or her removal under threat of being silenced - read my above post

[smedly]

We can always use the red-shirt argument. "She was abducted by red-shirts, masquerading as soldiers, in order to discredit the junta". Turnabout is fair play.

Who knows what happened here, or at the temple back in 2010. The only way the truth would ever be discovered is to have an international inquiry, and that will never happen. Any Thai inquiry into the events of 2010 would suffer from bias.

the only way to know what "really" happened would be through a witness that was there

it would appear that all involved have been silenced by either redshirt terrorists (I believe) or the army (don't believe)

we actually already know what happened - people in the temple were shot by the army - what is unknown is the justification - I believe the nurse was caught in the crossfire and was killed accidently - that's what happens when in a live fire zone and armed terrorists flee to your location - you get caught up in it from somewhere you thought was reasonably safe

[ToddinChonburi]

I just wonder why it took 5 years.

[smedly]

I just wonder why it took 5 years.

well for most if not all of that time the police were under PTP and red control until now - so you may have your answer

I think this girl is likely alive and living in fear of her life and that of her family - maybe the army should offer them protection and maybe another story will be revealed - but then the family are unlikely to speak up if the girl is being held somewhere - so they have them by the alls

[jdinasia]

This is the method of operation of military/police/government authority when dealing with those who saw what they should not have seen and those who know what should not be known in third world countries with totalitarian governments. Nothing new here.

If that is your premise, can you explain the 5 year delay?

[oneday]

Prayut better be jumping on this one immediately. Either it was the military or these were rogue people trying to protect whoever was involved in the killing. Either way Prayut should be seen to be mobilizing every possible resource to find her and return her safely.

[chainarong]

I don't hold much hope for this witness and neither do I believe they were security or soldiers and I would expect more of this if the proper security don't provide protection , this is a well worn path that makes Thailand a very dangerous place if you seek the truth.