Thai govt rejects Amnesty allegations on torture

[webfact]

TO DEFEND MARTIAL LAW USE
Govt rejects Amnesty allegations on torture
THE NATION

Foreign Ministry to defend the continued use of martial law to foreign organisations

BANGKOK: -- THE Foreign Ministry will defend the government against allegations that suspects behind grenade attacks were tortured while in military custody. It will also explain while the country remains under martial law, PM's Office deputy spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Sansern said the Foreign Ministry would disseminate a message to foreign correspondents and various foreign organisations to create a better understanding of the government's actions.

The move came after Amnesty International (AI) launched a global action urging its international members outside Thailand to voice concern over allegations of torture by the Thai Army and police.

The London-based organisation asked members to send letters to chiefs of both the Army and the police in order to get civilian agencies independently investigate the torture allegations and make their findings public. It also asked members to pressure the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha to allow grenade-attack suspects to have access to their family, lawyers, and independent physicians, as well as have their cases tried in civilian courts.

Sansern said AI and other organisations, including the United Nations, could pursue their activities in relation to Thailand. But he said they should treat the government with respect, particularly when it comes to information provided by the government in defence of itself.

He said the government was trying to explain to the world about the Thai justice system and noted that special laws, such as martial law, were applied only when necessary and that they did not make Thais feel uncomfortable.

Those who were uncomfortable with martial law were people who harboured "violent ideas", he said, adding that the government had to rely on martial law in order to help arrest more than 10 grenade-attack suspects.

Sansern defended the use of military courts against some civilians, saying the standards of military courts were no different from other courts. Only major security-related charges against civilians and lese majeste offences were handled by military courts.

He asked international organisations to have confidence in the Thai judicial system as the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) were prepared to be scrutinised.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, lashed out at Amnesty International and those accusing the military of torturing bomb suspects, by asking: "Whom have I tortured?"

Prawit said martial law did not allow torture. The deputy premier said the government was looking into the issue of martial law, which he acknowledged had reduced confidence in the government in the eyes of some foreign states. But he stressed the law was applied for two key tasks: search and arrest without having to wait for a court warrant.

Regarding efforts to extradite people accused of violating the lese majeste law, Prawit acknowledged that sometimes it was not possible because there were countries that do not recognise the law, so it would be impossible to extradite some people. Individuals charged with terrorism could be extradited, however.

NCPO spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvari also denied yesterday any suspects had been tortured.

"I insist that there's no reason or necessity for officers to torture or assault those in [military] custody under martial law. Officers chiefly rely on requesting cooperation and creating understanding among those detained by the military in solving the country's woes. I insist we don't treat those detained [under martial law] like suspects, which falls under the next step under the police.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngam said he met yesterday with officers from the Judge Advocate-General's Department to explore the possibility of transferring civilians from military courts to ordinary courts.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Govt-rejects-Amnesty-allegations-on-torture-30256700.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-25

[chooka]

Send all the propaganda messages you like but the international community isn't as gullible as Thai and it won't swallow the continuous flow of rubbish and lies. Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad. Would execute people if we could but would never stoop to a slap.

[AlbertMoore]

Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad.

Source and link for your claim, please.

[chooka]

Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad.

Source and link for your claim, please.

Thaivisa news, see you have just got here so take the opportunity to read a few topics prior.

[alfalfa19]

You are dismissed. GOOD bye.

[h90]

Where are they when it is about US secret prisons?

Where it is well known and proofed that they torture.....

[toybits]

"Sansern said the Foreign Ministry would disseminate a message to foreign correspondents and various foreign organisations to create a better understanding of the government's actions."

Somehow, "create a better understanding" sounds like something being Manufactured.

[chooka]

will amnesty international throw themselves on the next grenade or ied the reds throw???

a bunch of whiners sitting in their protected enclaves protecting terrorists,

may they be in the middle of the next explosion, imho

to be fair they will have to throw themselves on a yellow grenade as well or take a yellow bullet.

[chooka]

will amnesty international throw themselves on the next grenade or ied the reds throw???

a bunch of whiners sitting in their protected enclaves protecting terrorists,

may they be in the middle of the next explosion, imho

to be fair they will have to throw themselves on a yellow grenade as well or take a yellow bullet.

hello, ?when was the last time a yellow tossed a grenade or fired a round??

and yes amnesty international creates a smoke screen to protect terrorists around the world while sitting in their comfortable homes tut tutting the real world.

seeing your posts you are simply another apologist for terrorism, imho

cant see how my posts is supporting terrorism, personally I would wipe every last piece of Islamic excrement of the planet but if you say I support terrorism I will take your word for it.

[Srikcir]

"Officers chiefly rely on requesting cooperation and creating understanding among those detained by the military in solving the country's woes."

How does kidnapping people using soldiers without arrest warrants and sequestering them in secret army locations create cooperation and understanding?

How does the army denying it has secretly taken people into custody foster the same?

How does denying accused the right to council while in custody foster the same?

How do the signs of bodiy injury after being in custody foster the same?

How does the release of unsubstantiated conspiracies and associations of the accused foster the same?

The country's woes are the continued military dominance and countermand over Thailand's organic laws of justice. Reform of the civilian judicial system needs to place the military in a nonjudicial role to preserve fair and unbiased justice.

But so long as the military can run roughshod over Thais rights and liberties, the justice system will remain broken and the government open to charges of human rights violations. So long as there is no check and balance against military occupation of the nation, justice will remain elusive. And Thai free will will remain suppressed.

[rubl]

"Officers chiefly rely on requesting cooperation and creating understanding among those detained by the military in solving the country's woes."

How does kidnapping people using soldiers without arrest warrants and sequestering them in secret army locations create cooperation and understanding?

How does the army denying it has secretly taken people into custody foster the same?

How does denying accused the right to council while in custody foster the same?

How do the signs of bodiy injury after being in custody foster the same?

How does the release of unsubstantiated conspiracies and associations of the accused foster the same?

The country's woes are the continued military dominance and countermand over Thailand's organic laws of justice. Reform of the civilian judicial system needs to place the military in a nonjudicial role to preserve fair and unbiased justice.

But so long as the military can run roughshod over Thais rights and liberties, the justice system will remain broken and the government open to charges of human rights violations. So long as there is no check and balance against military occupation of the nation, justice will remain elusive. And Thai free will will remain suppressed.

'kidnapping'? 'run roughshod over rights and liberties'?

Are we still on the RTA or did we move to RTP already?

The justice system relies on laws and their adherence. Isn't that being done?

As for 'checks and balances', what's next ? Shall we hold democratic elections for junta members?

[Rancid]

Yes the irony is amazing, where indeed is Amnesty regarding admitted widespread torture at Guantanomo?

Or indeed for the widely reported building in Chicago where civilians were being "disappeared" .

So fascist regimes under the guise of democracy and their numerous alphabet agencies are ok then?

Their selective causes discredits them, are they yet another NGO with a political funded and directed agenda?

[heybruce]

Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad.

Source and link for your claim, please.

"Prayut, an army general who took power after a coup last May, insisted that he did not "overthrow democracy" and that Thailand was still 99 per cent democratic.

He said that if he had complete power he would have imprisoned his critics or "put them before a firing squad," but insisted that he chose instead to work within the framework of the law." http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/811216-prayut-blames-too-much-democracy-for-political-woes/

[waitforusalso]

Thai Human Rights Officials Barred From Visiting Alleged Torture Victims in Prison

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1427290004

[tbthailand]

Where are they when it is about US secret prisons?

Where it is well known and proofed that they torture.....

ah, the good ol' other countries do bad things argument... bravo!

are you really such an apologist that you must resort to infantile positions such as that?

[tbthailand]

Yes the irony is amazing, where indeed is Amnesty regarding admitted widespread torture at Guantanomo?

Or indeed for the widely reported building in Chicago where civilians were being "disappeared" .

So fascist regimes under the guise of democracy and their numerous alphabet agencies are ok then?

Their selective causes discredits them, are they yet another NGO with a political funded and directed agenda?

https://www.amnesty.org/en/articles/news/2012/01/guantanamo-decade-damage-human-rights/

[tbthailand]

"Officers chiefly rely on requesting cooperation and creating understanding among those detained by the military in solving the country's woes."

How does kidnapping people using soldiers without arrest warrants and sequestering them in secret army locations create cooperation and understanding?

How does the army denying it has secretly taken people into custody foster the same?

How does denying accused the right to council while in custody foster the same?

How do the signs of bodiy injury after being in custody foster the same?

How does the release of unsubstantiated conspiracies and associations of the accused foster the same?

The country's woes are the continued military dominance and countermand over Thailand's organic laws of justice. Reform of the civilian judicial system needs to place the military in a nonjudicial role to preserve fair and unbiased justice.

But so long as the military can run roughshod over Thais rights and liberties, the justice system will remain broken and the government open to charges of human rights violations. So long as there is no check and balance against military occupation of the nation, justice will remain elusive. And Thai free will will remain suppressed.

'kidnapping'? 'run roughshod over rights and liberties'?

Are we still on the RTA or did we move to RTP already?

The justice system relies on laws and their adherence. Isn't that being done?

As for 'checks and balances', what's next ? Shall we hold democratic elections for junta members?

OK, you deserve this - complete apologist cheerleader and troll in one...

[Denim]

will amnesty international throw themselves on the next grenade or ied the reds throw???

a bunch of whiners sitting in their protected enclaves protecting terrorists,

may they be in the middle of the next explosion, imho

With you holding their hands ........

[Myshkin]

So they are asking for respect and confidence, the problem is you don't ask for such things, you have to earn them.

Then they say the Thais do not feel uncomfortable under martial law, but there is no freedom of speech under martial law, so the Thais are not allowed to express their feelings.

[ripstanley]

Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad.

Source and link for your claim, please.

Have a read of this article on the ABC network.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-25/thai-pm-prayuth-says-has-power-to-execute-reporters/6348454

[AlbertMoore]

Prayuth said himself if he had the power he would put those against him in front of a firing squad.

Source and link for your claim, please.

Thaivisa news

Thanks for the obfuscation.

[jerojero]

Surprise surprise. Thailand, the hub of confessions.... Why is that?

[brucec64]

Surprise surprise. Thailand, the hub of confessions.... Why is that?

Two words:

Cattle

Prod