Human Rights Abuses Reported in Junta-Ruled Thailand

International New York Times | 10 September 2014

BANGKOK — In the wake of the coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of Thailand in May, at least one activist says she was tortured while in custody, some 60 civilians face trials in military courts, and dissent and freedom of expression have been sharply restricted, according to a report by Amnesty International.

“The right to a fair trial is currently in jeopardy,” said the report, which provided a snapshot of what it described as a deteriorating human rights situation in Thailand since the armed forces seized power in May.

The people facing military trials, which offer no appeal, are charged with taking part in political gatherings, protesting against the military takeover of the country or insulting the monarchy.

The report by the human rights group, which is to be released on Thursday, calculated that, over all, more than 570 people have been summoned to report to the military since the coup and that most have been released. Most were politicians, but 141 were academics, writers, journalists and activists, the report said.

 

The report details the case of Kritsuda Khunasen, a political activist who was detained for 29 days — longer than the seven days specified under the military’s own rules — and who says she was blindfolded for days at a time, punched and nearly asphyxiated with a plastic bag.

A YouTube video that she posted detailing what she described as torture was blocked by the junta. Ms. Kritsuda is now seeking political asylum overseas.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup, denied that Ms. Kritsuda had suffered ill treatment. “We have not beaten or tortured anyone,” he said in a nationally televised speech.

The report said the junta “implemented sweeping restrictions on freedom of expression, blocking and shutting down websites and community radio stations and stopping the dissemination of critical information, including in schools and universities.”

The junta has created a rubber-stamp National Legislative Assembly and says it will stay in power until at least the end of next year. General Prayuth was unanimously selected as prime minister by the assembly last month.

The country remains under martial law, and political gatherings of more than five people are technically banned. The junta has at least twice disrupted or forced the cancellation of media events related to the coup.

Last week, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a civic group, canceled a briefing at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand after pressure from the military. The Bangkok office of the United Nations Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia said the cancellation “adds to other incidents indicating a deteriorating environment for human rights defenders in the country.”

Although political freedoms remain tightly restricted, many business leaders say they are benefiting from the relative domestic peace under military rule.