Fears for ‘suspects’ in South, with huge scope for abuse under new decree

The Law Society of Thailand yesterday announced a plan to establish a centre for missing persons, amid growing concern about increased disappearances and possible abuse of power connected to the controversial emergency degree.

President Dej-Udom Krairit said the decree had given security officials sweeping powers to question suspects in connection with the violence in the deep South.

Summoned people are required to report to officials or face a punishment of two years in jail and a Bt60,000 fine, he said.

The new law allows officials to detain suspects up to 30 days without charge, as opposed to the 48-hour authorisation specified by the Panel Code Procedure, he said.

“What happens if they don’t come back?” Dej-Udom said, adding that the law gives too much power to officials and lacks transparency.

The Law Society urged so-called suspects to inform the organisation’s volunteers about the date, place and time they are supposed to appear before officials.

“This will give us the latest records about people’s locations in case they disappear,” he said.

Dej-Udom also said the Law Society would investigate every missing person’s case it is made aware of, and inform the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of rights violations.

International organisations were the only channel available to report violations, he added.

Hundreds of people in the deep South have reportedly gone missing since the beginning of last year when the government imposed harsh measures against insurgents in the predominantly Muslim region.

Among the missing is prominent lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, who disappeared in March of last year after charging that police tortured suspects during interrogations. Five police officers are now on trial for detaining the lawyer and theft of his property.

The recently passed emergency decree grants officials impunity for misconduct committed while containing violence in the South, Dej-Udom said.

Meanwhile, violence in the South since the start of 2004 has increased the number of orphans in three southernmost provinces to 7,000 and prevented social workers from carrying out their duties, according to a senior social worker.

Nobsak Sangkaew, a division head at Narathiwat’s Social Welfare and Human Security Department, said yesterday that there were 4,090 orphans in his province alone. And official estimates show the number of orphans in Pattani and Yala had risen to about 1,000 and 2,000, respectively.

Nobsak said the attacks had instilled fear among his staff members. Some have been too scared to conduct follow-up visits.

“In such cases we force them to go because it is part of their job,” Nobsak said.

Nobsak said it was difficult to tell which children had lost their parents from the continuing terror attacks or other criminal acts.

His office is working out the statistics, which are to due to be released next week.

Most of the orphans were living with their remaining parent or relatives.

Welfare officials have provided support such as scholarships and stationery items, Nobsak said.

Sopaporn Saeung
The Nation