Revised security laws will violate freedom: Suriyasai
The Campaign for Popular Democracy will oppose changes to the Internal Security Act be-cause they violate human rights, its secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said yesterday.
If the military-backed government passes the amendments, it will validate claims the junta wants to cling to power, he said. "The government will face public opposition if it passes this bill. It must wait for an elected government to consider this important security legislation," he said. He said the country needed a national security master plan. Before laws are passed, public hearings are required, he added. The Cabinet last week accepted in principle amendments to the act. They give the Internal Security Operations Command, or Isoc, the power to detain people and seize assets without court sanction. The Army commander heads Isoc. "The changes are a loophole allowing the Isoc director to harass enemies without them being protected by the courts," he said.
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