NCPO promises response to Amnesty human rights report

Colonel Winthai Suvari, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), denied the accusations, saying the junta would try to respond to each specific allegation.

“The NCPO has undertaken a series of measures that have altered Thailand’s institutional and legal framework, removing or weakening human-rights protections,” Amnesty International said. 

The 68-page report, entitled “Thailand Attitude Adjustment – 100 Days Under Martial Law”, was released in London.

“[The] NCPO has arbitrarily detained hundreds of individuals, including journalists, academics, students, politicians, social and political activists. The majority of those are now constrained by arbitrary restrictions on their liberties under threat of prosecution, and scores may now face unfair trials for peacefully exercising their human rights,” Amnesty International said.

 The organisation cited an unnamed detainee as saying: “I told them that I have the right to talk to lawyers and my family. And they told me to shut up. ‘You are a captive and you have no right to speak’.”

It added that some detainees were made to wear hoods or had their eyes covered while being taken to unspecified locations, while some were held incommunicado. It also noted the alleged torture of red-shirt supporter Kritsuda Khunasen and others. “I was released, leaving only my physical and mental bruises, which will forever remain in my heart,” one unnamed detainee was quoted saying.

“Amnesty International has received credible reports of torture and other ill-treatment during the interrogation of a number of people detained since the military took power on May 22,” the body said.

The report also quoted Kritsuda as saying: “And if I was too slow when answering, didn’t speak, didn’t answer the question directly or said I didn’t know, I was beaten with a fist to my face, head, stomach and body. The worst experience was when they placed a plastic bag over my head, tied up the ends and put a cloth bag over my head. This knocked me unconscious and I was brought back when they threw water on me.”

Winthai insisted the allegations of torture needed to be specific.

He told The Nation that it was up to the NCPO to decide whether an independent committee would be set up to investigate the allegations.