Army urged to release teacher and brother

[rooster59]

Army urged to release teacher and brother

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

A HUMAN rights network has urged the authorities to release a Tadika (Islamic kindergarten) teacher and his brother who were taken into military custody without charge in Songkhla on Wednesday evening.

 

The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) released a statement yesterday asking for the release of Daho Mathavorn, the teacher from Saba Yoi district, and his brother. 

 

The foundation stressed that both men, currently detained at Ingkhayuttha Borihan army base in Pattani, had committed no crime and were arrested without proper authorisation in an area not covered by martial law.

 

CrCF director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet said her organisation has been contacted by Daho’s family, who were anxious that both men should be returned safely.

 

“Daho has no criminal record. He works as a teacher and he is respected in his community. Therefore, we are wondering why the officers detained him in the military camp,” Pornpen said.

 

“This is arbitrary detention, because the officers cannot arrest him and his brother without charge. Saba Yoi district is not within the area covered by the martial law, so the officers must obtain an arrest warrant from court first before arresting them.”

 

Pornpen said arbitrary detention was commonly practised by officers in the deep South, and in many cases it led to torture during interrogation.

She said such random arrests caused fear and mistrust among people, which did not help solve the chronic insurgency problem in the region.

 

Daho was reportedly abducted from his home by an unknown group of men the previous Saturday. He had informed the Deep South Journalism School that he was taken to an unknown place for two days before being allowed to leave and then dropped at Satun bus station on Monday.

 

He reported the incident to police on Tuesday, but the next day he was summoned by military officers and brought his brother along with him. Both were taken to the Ingkhayuttha Borihan camp, where they are still detained.

 

He told the Deep South Journalism School he suspected that his abduction might be linked with an accusation made in February that he and other 100 youths in the community were suspected of being involved in stirring unrest. 

 

However, many people including the community leader had confirmed to the officers that he was innocent.

 

Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom-in said that since had just learned about Daho’s detention at the military camp, he would have to make checks on the issue first.

 

However, Pramote said the earlier incident in which Daho claimed to have been abducted was not true and he had made up the story to defame the army.

 

“We have investigated his abduction claim and found that he just had gone to Satun without telling his family. The officers also never abduct people like that. If we have proof and are sure that he is a suspect, the officers will clearly identify themselves and notify the community leader and family first,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315817

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-21

[Rhys]

mmm on message right...

[yellowboat]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

However, Pramote said the earlier incident in which Daho claimed to have been abducted was not true and he had made up the story to defame the army.

Is it possible to defame the Thai Army?  They are the defenders something?

[Rhys]

oh by the way, the govt officials in BKK care immensely about the southerners... 

[Fulwell53]

3 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Is it possible to defame the Thai Army?  They are the defenders something?

I'm sure you'll think of some way of defaming it so long as the word thai is there .

The unhappyistas have this sort of thing down to a fine art.

Doesnt need to be proof, reason or cause to do it either.

[Matt96]

this is only way to fight with Islamic terror propagandists. unless you want it like in UK where  a person living on expense of taxpayers (Angam Hudari) dares to say that welfare from infidels is for jihad against infidels.

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“This is arbitrary detention, because the officers cannot arrest him and his brother without charge

 

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

were arrested without proper authorisation in an area not covered by martial law.

Where martial law does not exist, arrest without a warrant and covert detention in undisclosed location under Article 44 does exist as in the rest of Thailand. There is really no difference where one lives in Thailand. All peoples in Thailand fall under the military's Rule of Subjugation. And in southern Thailand it's incidences like the case of the Mathavorns kidnapping that helps recruitment for the insurgents.

[soalbundy]

'capturing the hearts and minds' come to mind.

[soalbundy]

5 hours ago, Fulwell53 said:

I'm sure you'll think of some way of defaming it so long as the word thai is there .

The unhappyistas have this sort of thing down to a fine art.

Doesnt need to be proof, reason or cause to do it either.

He looked at me funny

[yellowboat]

19 hours ago, Fulwell53 said:

I'm sure you'll think of some way of defaming it so long as the word thai is there .

The unhappyistas have this sort of thing down to a fine art.

Doesnt need to be proof, reason or cause to do it either.

Not True.  The average Thai is, as far as my experience, a good person.  I have the honor of working with many wonderful Thais in and outside of Thailand.  When it comes to RTA or the RTP, there is little to cheer about.   Know wonderful individuals in both organizations, but as a whole, not much to be proud of. 

Edited May 22, 2017 by yellowboat