THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Army urged to release teacher and brother

Army urged to release teacher and brother

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.
 

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