Bringing Thaksin To Account

[ColPyat]

There may not be a full/complete and thourough investigation that will satisfy most of us but we will see much better results than what the Royal Thai police usually come up with when THEY are supposed to investigate events like the New Year bombings, Thaksin's bomb, Prem,s, Chamlongs, Khunying Pornthip's, (the forensics expert who herself had clashes with police brass) which always seem to conveniently end up in a dead end be it by doing someone a favour, complete incompetence or laziness.

The then manipulated investigations of the drug war killings will shock many more than what the new committee will deliver.

The craziness should never be allowed to ever happen again. Police officers behaving in such a way are worst than yaba dealers/users in my book.

Very often the police is hindered itself in their investigations, especially when other vested interests in the shadows are involved. I am not saying that the police is clean at all - but no more dirty than others, and cleaner than some.

You cannot blame the police alone and wholesale - the police force is part of a dysfunctional system. That system has not changed, and the coup only reinforced it.

It is convenient to blame all the drug war killings on the police. Nobody blames the Dor Chor Dor for their killings, and who ordered them. The Dor Chor Dor are not to be blamed, even though they have a sad record in Thailand's human rights violations. And yes - they have done good as well in the past, and still do so.

And there are far more shadowy militias and paramilitary organisations in existence of which even most Thais have never heard about.

But don't forget - they act on orders (and at times somewhat independent). Thaksin is a new arrival in Thailand's long history of human rights violations and internal conflicts. The system that enables that is still intact. You may take Thaksin away, but if this system is not dismantled - nothing will change, and the next slaughter is just around the corner.

[marshbags]

The Nation Sunday 19-08-07

Ref. url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/19...al_30045583.php

Quote

Drugs-war panel to name the guilty

The Independent Committee on the Casualties of the 2003 War on Drugs will focus on the rehabilitation of victims' families and clear up lingering doubts over the death toll, panel member Charan Pakdithanakul said yesterday.Published on August 19, 2007

"The committee is tasked to set the record straight and to regain the people's trust on drug-related policies," he said.

Charan, also Justice Ministry permanent secretary, outlined the committee's four main tasks.

First, it is going to verify the claimed death toll of more than 2,500 people.

Second, it will recommend measures to assist surviving family members.

Third, it will draw up ways to prevent a repeat of innocent bystanders falling victim in drug-suppression campaigns.

Finally, it is to name the culprits responsible for unjustified killings.

The committee, led by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has yet to meet since its formation on Tuesday.

It is expected to take 10 months to complete its mission.

Unquote

I would add to the list that a set of guidelines and orders should be set up to prevent unlawful killing of the kind that happened to ALL those victims, not classed as bystanders, that were never given a chance to surrender.

If it,s a thorough investigation you will be looking at many more murders being added to the grim statistics.

Who knows how many annonymous individuals will not be accounted far that have met a gruesome endings

marshbags :mellow:and

Edited August 19, 2007 by marshbags

[LaoPo]

1. The craziness should never be allowed to ever happen again.

2. Police officers behaving in such a way are worst than yaba dealers/users in my book.

1. I agree.

2. I do NOT agree with your sentence as written.

I agree Police shouldn't act as they did (if guilty) but Yaba dealers are far more worse -in MY book- since they kill slowly and more people as well.

The users need help and you can't say they're worse than those Police killers. They are victims, not killers.

LaoPo

[marshbags]

The Nation Sunday 19-08-07

Ref. url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/19...al_30045583.php

Quote

Drugs-war panel to name the guilty

The Independent Committee on the Casualties of the 2003 War on Drugs will focus on the rehabilitation of victims' families and clear up lingering doubts over the death toll, panel member Charan Pakdithanakul said yesterday.Published on August 19, 2007

"The committee is tasked to set the record straight and to regain the people's trust on drug-related policies," he said.

Charan, also Justice Ministry permanent secretary, outlined the committee's four main tasks.

First, it is going to verify the claimed death toll of more than 2,500 people.

Second, it will recommend measures to assist surviving family members.

Third, it will draw up ways to prevent a repeat of innocent bystanders falling victim in drug-suppression campaigns.

Finally, it is to name the culprits responsible for unjustified killings.

The committee, led by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has yet to meet since its formation on Tuesday.

It is expected to take 10 months to complete its mission.

Unquote

I would add to the list that a set of guidelines and orders should be set up to prevent unlawful killing of the kind that happened to ALL those victims, not classed as bystanders, that were never given a chance to surrender.

If it,s a thorough investigation you will be looking at many more murders being added to the grim statistics.

Who knows how many annonymous individuals will not be accounted far that have met a gruesome endings

marshbags :mellow:and

Let us hope that whoever gets elected, doesn,t undo all that has been achieved in bringing it out into the public domain, by interference from those responsible / involved and accountable for the abuses. ???????

Edited August 19, 2007 by marshbags

[hammered]

The Nation Sunday 19-08-07

Ref. url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/19...al_30045583.php

Quote

Drugs-war panel to name the guilty

The Independent Committee on the Casualties of the 2003 War on Drugs will focus on the rehabilitation of victims' families and clear up lingering doubts over the death toll, panel member Charan Pakdithanakul said yesterday.Published on August 19, 2007

"The committee is tasked to set the record straight and to regain the people's trust on drug-related policies," he said.

Charan, also Justice Ministry permanent secretary, outlined the committee's four main tasks.

First, it is going to verify the claimed death toll of more than 2,500 people.

Second, it will recommend measures to assist surviving family members.

Third, it will draw up ways to prevent a repeat of innocent bystanders falling victim in drug-suppression campaigns.

Finally, it is to name the culprits responsible for unjustified killings.

The committee, led by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has yet to meet since its formation on Tuesday.

It is expected to take 10 months to complete its mission.

Unquote

I would add to the list that a set of guidelines and orders should be set up to prevent unlawful killing of the kind that happened to ALL those victims, not classed as bystanders, that were never given a chance to surrender.

If it,s a thorough investigation you will be looking at many more murders being added to the grim statistics.

Who knows how many annonymous individuals will not be accounted far that have met a gruesome endings

marshbags :mellow:and

Let us hope that whoever gets elected, doesn,t undo all that has been achieved in bringing it out into the public domain, by interference from those responsible / involved and accountable for the abuses. ???????

Well you better hope the cheerleader of the 76 massacres and the hero of ban rom Khlao dont get into power then. Not to mention the drama queen with a burmese junta name of buri ram and we shouldnt leave out the refrigerator who will probably want to see his truly evil family business protected.

Personally I could easily see this crew running the country and it would be potentially a lot worse than even the regime of Mr. 2.5K and counting.

[ColPyat]

Well you better hope the cheerleader of the 76 massacres and the hero of ban rom Khlao dont get into power then. Not to mention the drama queen with a burmese junta name of buri ram and we shouldnt leave out the refrigerator who will probably want to see his truly evil family business protected.

Personally I could easily see this crew running the country and it would be potentially a lot worse than even the regime of Mr. 2.5K and counting.

Well, and lets also hope that a man of similar fame in '76 and aftermath, now ISOC special advisor, and running for "Rak Chat" is not having a say.

The murderers are on all sides of the fence.

[Tony Clifton]

The Nation Sunday 19-08-07

Ref. url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/19...al_30045583.php

Quote

Drugs-war panel to name the guilty

The Independent Committee on the Casualties of the 2003 War on Drugs will focus on the rehabilitation of victims' families and clear up lingering doubts over the death toll, panel member Charan Pakdithanakul said yesterday.Published on August 19, 2007

"The committee is tasked to set the record straight and to regain the people's trust on drug-related policies," he said.

Charan, also Justice Ministry permanent secretary, outlined the committee's four main tasks.

First, it is going to verify the claimed death toll of more than 2,500 people.

Second, it will recommend measures to assist surviving family members.

Third, it will draw up ways to prevent a repeat of innocent bystanders falling victim in drug-suppression campaigns.

Finally, it is to name the culprits responsible for unjustified killings.

The committee, led by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has yet to meet since its formation on Tuesday.

It is expected to take 10 months to complete its mission.

Unquote

I would add to the list that a set of guidelines and orders should be set up to prevent unlawful killing of the kind that happened to ALL those victims, not classed as bystanders, that were never given a chance to surrender.

If it,s a thorough investigation you will be looking at many more murders being added to the grim statistics.

Who knows how many annonymous individuals will not be accounted far that have met a gruesome endings

marshbags :mellow:and

Let us hope that whoever gets elected, doesn,t undo all that has been achieved in bringing it out into the public domain, by interference from those responsible / involved and accountable for the abuses. ???????

Well you better hope the cheerleader of the 76 massacres and the hero of ban rom Khlao dont get into power then. Not to mention the drama queen with a burmese junta name of buri ram and we shouldnt leave out the refrigerator who will probably want to see his truly evil family business protected.

Personally I could easily see this crew running the country and it would be potentially a lot worse than even the regime of Mr. 2.5K and counting.

Let us also hope that those now targeted by the investigations (thousands and thousands are involved) will not become performing murderous magicians and have even one damaging witness conveniently disappear as they've done before. Enough innocents have died already.

[nick2k]

I'll end up still remembering the governments of Banharn, Chuan and even the bumbling Chavalit as islands of freedom even if not that effective, and that is very sad. All of the freedoms that we discuss today and the 1997 constitution were widely, openly and freely discussed under these governments. People were open to others ideas and debates. People could differ in opinion and still work together. Sadly this spirit of openness, frankness, and spirit of democracy has disipated into a winner taskes all and screw you and I am always right mentality.

The problem was that yes, there was far more freedom in those days, but for a large majority of Thais it was a time where they had hope and not much else, and especially after the financial crises even the last bit of hope was taken away from them.

I doubt though that the freedom was something that was intended (remember, please, even in those days you had regular draconian measures, just remember the Smile Radio issue), but that was a result of attention given more to constant power struggles between weak coalition governments, their partners and the opposition.

And after '97 the country slipped into a tremendous drug crises, because governments such as the Banharn government did not much more than changing the name of the amphetamines from "Ya Maa" (horse pill) into "Ya Baa" (crazy pill).

That does not mean that i agree with the methods of the drug war, but something had to be done.

Your points are valid C.P. and as you always make a point of stating your support for ridding the country of drugs.

The problem with saying " but something had to be done " seemingly comes across as giving an O.K. to Thaksins method of alledgedly wiping it out and in turn using this to murder thousands of victims in an evil vendetta to protect vested interests among certain Puyai.

Many posters in this thread have already pointed out the correct and proven way to tackle this world wide problem and irradicate the causes that feed this vicous circle and consequent curse on society.

Murder is not one of them and i am confident you will agree with this.

IMHO of course

marshbags

maybe it wasn't "murder". maybe it was self defense. I mean, think about it, if you were a drug dealer, and you were caught with your pants down with a supply of drugs, what would you do? you know the penalty for drug dealing is death here in thailand. could it possibly be, these drug dealers decided to try to run away? and they started shooting at the police. that would make it self defense on the part of the police, wouldn't it?

is there any possibility that this was the scenario? any remote possibility at all?

I mean the picture some of you guys are trying to convey to the readers about these drug dealers is that they are your average citizens parading around like innocents while they go about their business selling drugs which happen to destroy peoples lives.

get real. my guess is - many of them probably carried guns on them illegally.

[ColPyat]

maybe it wasn't "murder". maybe it was self defense. I mean, think about it, if you were a drug dealer, and you were caught with your pants down with a supply of drugs, what would you do? you know the penalty for drug dealing is death here in thailand. could it possibly be, these drug dealers decided to try to run away? and they started shooting at the police. that would make it self defense on the part of the police, wouldn't it?

is there any possibility that this was the scenario? any remote possibility at all?

I mean the picture some of you guys are trying to convey to the readers about these drug dealers is that they are your average citizens parading around like innocents while they go about their business selling drugs which happen to destroy peoples lives.

get real. my guess is - many of them probably carried guns on them illegally.

There is very little possibility of that scenario. A few cases yes, but most cases were murdered execution style. Most of the corpses i have seen had burn marks and gun powder residue around the entry wounds at their heads, which are clearly execution style murders from closest range.

Drug dealing does not carry the death penalty in Thailand, only cross border trafficking. And even there most cases are converted into life sentences.

[A_Traveller]

Neither was Thaksin the most senior civilian in the chain of command.

Would you expand on this, please?

Regards

[hammered]

Neither was Thaksin the most senior civilian in the chain of command.

Would you expand on this, please?

Regards

And actually heads of government are always the held as ultimately responsible for death squad action on their watch. Thaksin was head fo the government and by any international standard is the one ultimately reponsible for the extra judiical policy. There may be others involved who should be tried but he is the ultimate one who must be tried. There is no excuse or way of lessening what the head of the govevrnment with a majority in the legislature, complete control over the executive and complete control over the police did.

[ColPyat]

Neither was Thaksin the most senior civilian in the chain of command.

Would you expand on this, please?

Regards

And actually heads of government are always the held as ultimately responsible for death squad action on their watch. Thaksin was head fo the government and by any international standard is the one ultimately reponsible for the extra judiical policy. There may be others involved who should be tried but he is the ultimate one who must be tried. There is no excuse or way of lessening what the head of the govevrnment with a majority in the legislature, complete control over the executive and complete control over the police did.

Thailand though does not work along international standards, especially when measured along developed countries.

Informal power networks here are often far more important than what is internationally recognized. Thaksin of course was part of, and made use of those informal networks, but he was a new kid on the block. And as we have seen, he was ousted - so clearly he was not the dominating factor, even though in his delusions he might have thought so.

As long as Thailand is not addressing this uncomfortable issue of informal power networks - nothing will change to the better. Generals simply rolling out tanks when there is a political problem is part of such an informal power network problem. You can't have it both ways - hoping that we have one day a civil society, and at the first sign of a problem using the ultimate measures of an informal and unconstitutional measure.

As long as there are sectors and individuals in this society who not just search for loopholes in the constitution, but are entirely above it, and can step over it with impunity, all attachment of blame to convenient targets while not addressing the enabling system will not lead to development.

I have mentioned here some paramilitary organisations and militias. Some of them are only partially responsible to the formal system, and some are entirely out of that loop, only responsible to informal networks. There is very little reading material about those available. And the few serious studies available that do research the more open and better known organisations all recommend disbanding and incorporating the better trained and disciplined companies into the somewhat more accountable official security services.

Very little though is known about the more clandestine organizations.

What many people underestimate is how high up those networks go. These are not just local mafia groups with private armies. You may think that things have changed here since the 70's. But they have changed only to a certain degree - they are just less obvious. If you want to read up on this system - then just read the few available studies done on what happened in the 70's.

Power distribution has not changed much though, and there the happenings of the 70's can be applied to what happens today. Especially regarding the many human rights violations. You cannot separate what happened under Thaksin and what happened thirty years ago. This has to be seen in context.

Blame Thaksin as much as you want, but that will not address the real issue of a system that is inherently open to abuse by forces above public scrutiny. Thaksin goes, somebody else comes, and the next national problem will be countered the same way it always has - by extra-constitution brutalities.

The drug war under Thaksin's premiership was fought the way it was because it was agreed upon by all sectors of the formal and the informal networks of power that this is the way to counter the severe drug crises. Thaksin may be gone (for the time being) - but all other equally important factors are still in place, as they always were throughout contemporary Thai history, and are untouched, not talked about, not blamed.

[marshbags]

maybe it wasn't "murder". maybe it was self defense. I mean, think about it, if you were a drug dealer, and you were caught with your pants down with a supply of drugs, what would you do? you know the penalty for drug dealing is death here in thailand. could it possibly be, these drug dealers decided to try to run away? and they started shooting at the police. that would make it self defense on the part of the police, wouldn't it?

is there any possibility that this was the scenario? any remote possibility at all?

I mean the picture some of you guys are trying to convey to the readers about these drug dealers is that they are your average citizens parading around like innocents while they go about their business selling drugs which happen to destroy peoples lives.

get real. my guess is - many of them probably carried guns on them illegally.

There is very little possibility of that scenario. A few cases yes, but most cases were murdered execution style. Most of the corpses i have seen had burn marks and gun powder residue around the entry wounds at their heads, which are clearly execution style murders from closest range.

Drug dealing does not carry the death penalty in Thailand, only cross border trafficking. And even there most cases are converted into life sentences.

Does running away come under your interpetation of self defence N2K ?

Caught with your pants down and being in a position to be a threat.... you,re joking of course

You will find very few who come under the banner of your take on real......ity

Most important of all you forgot to mention the innocent bystanders and the children in your "guess "/ " scenario "

Last of all i don,t recall anything remotely realistic in the few infamous news clips that were shown as evidence to legitimise the murders

They also refused Thailands most trusted forensic pathologist, access to such evidence as they know full well she would refuted it all.

She is of highly and proven integrity, just in case you are wondering why her services were not required.

I,ve included C.P,s post as he describes well what occured in many executions and the lawful penalties for their alledged offences.

marshbags.

P.S.

Everyone of the victims would have been frightened to death at the well known consequences in the shoot / kill first policies

and many were running away in blind and fearful panic.

A minority of these were of course on a hiding to nothing and were tooled up accordingly to shoot it out.

They had no choice / options on this because of the clear shoot to kill policies.

Had the objectives of Thaksin and his coherts been honourable he would have encouraged surrender and talk / inform and get the big guys at the top of the supply chain.

Unfortunately Big boys = Puyai and his only objective was to protect them and their identities and the many vested interests.

marshbags

Edited August 19, 2007 by marshbags

[Mid]

Victims' families unsure about new drug war panel

Sunday August 19, 2007

By Anucha Charoenpo

Committee hopes to restore public faith and human rights image

Relatives of those who mysteriously died during the Thaksin government's war on drugs four years ago remain sceptical about the effectiveness of the government's newly appointed committee set up to reinvestigate the killings of over 2,500 drug suspects.

An independent committee, headed by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has been asked to seek out those responsible for the killings, come up with measures and criteria to grant compensation and rehabilitation to the victims and their families, study and analyse the impact of the drug war policy, and publicise its findings to restore the country's image

snip.

The Post Publishing Public Co

[hammered]

Victims' families unsure about new drug war panel

Sunday August 19, 2007

By Anucha Charoenpo

Committee hopes to restore public faith and human rights image

Relatives of those who mysteriously died during the Thaksin government's war on drugs four years ago remain sceptical about the effectiveness of the government's newly appointed committee set up to reinvestigate the killings of over 2,500 drug suspects.

An independent committee, headed by former attorney-general Khanit na Nakhon, has been asked to seek out those responsible for the killings, come up with measures and criteria to grant compensation and rehabilitation to the victims and their families, study and analyse the impact of the drug war policy, and publicise its findings to restore the country's image

snip.

The Post Publishing Public Co

Interesting that the listed criteria doesnt mention prosecuting explicitly.

[Mid]

find an alternative to the word faith and it will become clearer .................................

[Solosiam]

Computer says "confidence"

[Mid]

too literal ...............

[Jai Dee]

Committee scrutinizing extra-judicial execution to hold its first meeting on August 29th

Former Attorney-General Kanit Na Nakorn (คณิต ณ นคร) in his capacity as the chairman of the committee investigating the extra-judicial execution during the Thaksin administration reveals that the committee will hold its first meeting on August 29th at 10.00 a.m. to outline working guidelines.

The extra-judicial execution of more than 2,500 people is a part of the Thaksin administration’s policy to suppress drugs.

Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice Charnchao Chaiyanukit (ชาญเชาวน์ ไชยานุกิจ) who is the secretary of the committee says the meeting will appoint subcommittees responsible for fact-finding, preventive measures concerning narcotics, investigation into those authorizing the extra-judicial execution, and mitigation for people affected by the execution.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 August 2007

[marshbags]

The Nation...Wed, August 22, 2007 : Last updated 0:10 hours

Ref. Url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/22...on_30045996.php

Quote:-

Editorial:

An historic victory for human rights

Bold move to ratify UN Convention Against Torture is welcome, but personal freedoms remain restrictedPublished on August 22, 2007

The Thai Cabinet's recent decision to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture is encouraging. For years, Thailand has said that it would do so but has failed each time to carry out its promise. The previous government pledged to do so as early as 2004, but nothing came of it. It is ironic indeed that it has taken the Surayud government, installed by the September 19 coup leaders, to go through with this bold undertaking. In doing so, the government has let it be known to the world that it finds torture to be an unacceptable practice. This will augur well with the government's plan to protect and promote human rights.

Two observations can be made concerning Thailand's historic move.

First of all, it is interesting that this latest endeavour also coincides with the government's ongoing efforts to reform the Royal Thai Police. It is an open secret that police and other members of the country's security forces have used various forms of torture during detentions. Torture has been used throughout Thai history as a means of extracting information and the so-called truth. During the communist insurgency in the 1960s and 1970s torture was often used to obtain information because security officials believed that genuine information could be obtained through such methods.

Indeed, Muslim human-rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaichit disclosed in February of 2004 that his clients were tortured by the police. The news sparked a major uproar among members of the Thai public who normally did not pay any attention to torture. Subsequently, it led to the lawyer's disappearance a few weeks later. The investigation into his disappearance continues to this day.

At the moment, all security forces in the troubled southern provinces are told to comply with international norms. They have been instructed to approach any suspect with smiles and nice words. Furthermore, they are told not to use the provisions of the Emergency Decree, which is in force currently, in order to reduce cases of abuse and injustice. Innocent people have been arrested and punished without having done anything wrong through the misuse of these provisions.

Secondly, it has become obvious that the Surayud government wants to leave behind a legacy as an administration that respected human rights and promoted democracy.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has been quite assertive these days to ensure that his government is not seen as a puppet for the Council for National Security (CNS). Earlier this year, the government approved the establishment of a regional headquarters of the International Commission of Jurists, an initiative which had been turned down by the previous government. He also instructed the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the convention is adhered to.

Surayud has to do more if he wants to be remembered as a defender of human rights. At the moment, Thailand scores very badly when it comes to three freedoms, specifically those of expression, association and assembly.

In the past year, Thailand has become one of the world's most filtered countries as far as the Internet is concerned. The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is doing Thailand a great disservice by blocking tens of thousands of websites. In the end, it will hurt online users more. Public rallies, which were once commonplace, now carry the threat of arrest and detention, as was the case with some members of pro-Thaksin groups.

The prime minister must prevail over these measures which have already dented Thailand's reputation on the international stage. Eventually the lack of a consistent approach by the Surayud government would self-destruct because there is no merit in adopting a dual approach to human rights and other freedoms.

Once the National Legislative Assembly passes the measure, Thailand will join the 144 countries that have ratified the 1984 treaty. As a signatory, Thailand must report periodically to the UN to demonstrate that torture is no longer practised. Any report alleging the country to have committed such an action would lead to further investigation by the UN. Thailand must also accept complaints filed by individuals who claim to be victims of torture.

Three loud cheers for this bold decision.

Unquote.

This really is a huge step forward and envelops all H.Rights issues of abuse.

It also allows for monitoring and policing any such developments at an early stage.

marshbags

Edited August 22, 2007 by marshbags

[hammered]

The Nation...Wed, August 22, 2007 : Last updated 0:10 hours

Ref. Url:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/22...on_30045996.php

Quote:-

Editorial:

An historic victory for human rights

Bold move to ratify UN Convention Against Torture is welcome, but personal freedoms remain restrictedPublished on August 22, 2007

The Thai Cabinet's recent decision to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture is encouraging. For years, Thailand has said that it would do so but has failed each time to carry out its promise. The previous government pledged to do so as early as 2004, but nothing came of it. It is ironic indeed that it has taken the Surayud government, installed by the September 19 coup leaders, to go through with this bold undertaking. In doing so, the government has let it be known to the world that it finds torture to be an unacceptable practice. This will augur well with the government's plan to protect and promote human rights.

Two observations can be made concerning Thailand's historic move.

First of all, it is interesting that this latest endeavour also coincides with the government's ongoing efforts to reform the Royal Thai Police. It is an open secret that police and other members of the country's security forces have used various forms of torture during detentions. Torture has been used throughout Thai history as a means of extracting information and the so-called truth. During the communist insurgency in the 1960s and 1970s torture was often used to obtain information because security officials believed that genuine information could be obtained through such methods.

Indeed, Muslim human-rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaichit disclosed in February of 2004 that his clients were tortured by the police. The news sparked a major uproar among members of the Thai public who normally did not pay any attention to torture. Subsequently, it led to the lawyer's disappearance a few weeks later. The investigation into his disappearance continues to this day.

At the moment, all security forces in the troubled southern provinces are told to comply with international norms. They have been instructed to approach any suspect with smiles and nice words. Furthermore, they are told not to use the provisions of the Emergency Decree, which is in force currently, in order to reduce cases of abuse and injustice. Innocent people have been arrested and punished without having done anything wrong through the misuse of these provisions.

Secondly, it has become obvious that the Surayud government wants to leave behind a legacy as an administration that respected human rights and promoted democracy.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has been quite assertive these days to ensure that his government is not seen as a puppet for the Council for National Security (CNS). Earlier this year, the government approved the establishment of a regional headquarters of the International Commission of Jurists, an initiative which had been turned down by the previous government. He also instructed the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the convention is adhered to.

Surayud has to do more if he wants to be remembered as a defender of human rights. At the moment, Thailand scores very badly when it comes to three freedoms, specifically those of expression, association and assembly.

In the past year, Thailand has become one of the world's most filtered countries as far as the Internet is concerned. The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is doing Thailand a great disservice by blocking tens of thousands of websites. In the end, it will hurt online users more. Public rallies, which were once commonplace, now carry the threat of arrest and detention, as was the case with some members of pro-Thaksin groups.

The prime minister must prevail over these measures which have already dented Thailand's reputation on the international stage. Eventually the lack of a consistent approach by the Surayud government would self-destruct because there is no merit in adopting a dual approach to human rights and other freedoms.

Once the National Legislative Assembly passes the measure, Thailand will join the 144 countries that have ratified the 1984 treaty. As a signatory, Thailand must report periodically to the UN to demonstrate that torture is no longer practised. Any report alleging the country to have committed such an action would lead to further investigation by the UN. Thailand must also accept complaints filed by individuals who claim to be victims of torture.

Three loud cheers for this bold decision.

Unquote.

This really is a huge step forward and envelops all H.Rights issues of abuse.

It also allows for monitoring and policing any such developments at an early stage.

marshbags

It is good to see this happen. It is an ironic statement on the state of Thai democracy that it took a military government to do what an elected one would not do.

[sriracha john]

It is good and they should keep right on going and ratify the International Criminal Court treaty.

Thailand's signature is long overdue.

[hammered]

It is good and they should keep right on going and ratify the International Criminal Court treaty.

Thailand's signature is long overdue.

Agree with you, but I dont think it will happen.

[marshbags]

It is good and they should keep right on going and ratify the International Criminal Court treaty.

Thailand's signature is long overdue.

Agree with you, but I dont think it will happen.

Being an optimist i also hope to see it happen and think it will get there eventually.

I also think the acceptance of the United Nations Convention Against Torture will lead to similar changes that are important to not only H. Rights issues but to democracy.

As in encouragement from the other 144 members of the U.N.C.A.T. now the bar is about to rise relating to Thailands new found courage and the willingness to implement these imortant changes.

May they long continue in this forward thinking scenario.

IMHO as always.

I have to ask the obvious question, while using it as a non cynical, yet serious observation.

Would this have ever been possible under the last governments watch ?.....NOT A CHANCE

marshbags

[blaze]

It is good and they should keep right on going and ratify the International Criminal Court treaty.

Thailand's signature is long overdue.

Agree with you, but I dont think it will happen.

Being an optimist i also hope to see it happen and think it will get there eventually.

I also think the acceptance of the United Nations Convention Against Torture will lead to similar changes that are important to not only H. Rights issues but to democracy.

As in encouragement from the other 144 members of the U.N.C.A.T. now the bar is about to rise relating to Thailands new found courage and the willingness to implement these imortant changes.

May they long continue in this forward thinking scenario.

IMHO as always.

I have to ask the obvious question, while using it as a non cynical, yet serious observation.

Would this have ever been possible under the last governments watch ?.....NOT A CHANCE

marshbags

Indeed this is good news. Any day now we can expect a serious investigation into the claims of torture that periodically surface in the south.

[Siripon]

The claims of present day torture are bad but they pale in comparison to the disappearances and murders under Thaksin.

Police reform, investigations into killings, as mentioned, were impossible under the leadership of the great democrat Thaksin.

When the pillars of democracy are shaky and subject to mishandling by those with lots of shiny notes, it needs a steady hand as exhibited by Suruayud to proceed, according to the law.

[blaze]

The claims of present day torture are bad but they pale in comparison to the disappearances and murders under Thaksin.

Police reform, investigations into killings, as mentioned, were impossible under the leadership of the great democrat Thaksin.

When the pillars of democracy are shaky and subject to mishandling by those with lots of shiny notes, it needs a steady hand as exhibited by Suruayud to proceed, according to the law.

But now investigations- by non-military, internationally approved agencies- is possible- and not only that- they are mandated by the treaty (aren't they? I would expect they are). Will it happen?

[jumnien]

It is unlikely that there will be investigations of ongoing torture as the "independent commissions" are puppet army coalitions and the generals and their henchmen have already been granted immunity in their "constitution". Undoubtedly, there will be attempts to harrass and "investigate" any political opponents that try to bring about democratic rule in Thailand. This is already the case.

[Siripon]

Wait and see boys, Surayud may be slow but he's sure.

[Plus]

It is unlikely that there will be investigations of ongoing torture as the "independent commissions" are puppet army coalitions and the generals and their henchmen have already been granted immunity in their "constitution". Undoubtedly, there will be attempts to harrass and "investigate" any political opponents that try to bring about democratic rule in Thailand. This is already the case.

There will be a mechanism to respond to the allegations, that's all. It won't have anything to do with the junta, generals, political opponents, immunity in the constitution etc etc.

Why did you mention immunity at all? As if you are implying that the junta is torturing its political opponents.

Do they also eat babies?

If Democrats come to power they are likely to consider signing IC treaty as well, but it will also depend on the progress of drug war investigations. It might bring powerful political resistance, and not from the junta.