The Bangkok Post reports:
Army chief Anupong Paojinda yesterday vowed swift punishment for any soldier found responsible for the death of an imam in Narathiwat.
Gen Anupong admitted allegations by relatives that soldiers had a hand in the death of 56-year-old Yupa Kaseng were damaging to the army.
Yupa was found dead on Friday, a few days after he was taken into a special army unit in Rueso district of Narathiwat to be questioned on suspicion of being a separatist insurgent.
It was reported that he suffered cuts and broken ribs. People in his community rallied outside the military unit to condemn the military over the death.
Gen Anupong said an inquiry was under way.
If soldiers had a role in the death, they would be subject to swift criminal punishment which could not be reduced later.
If there were grounds to the allegation, the soldiers would face a transfer as the first-step punishment, he said.
The army chief made his comments during a meeting with senior army officers in Narathiwat yesterday.
He said soldiers in charge of the questioning must not touch the suspects, and keep to proper procedures.
Rueso district chief Chamlong Kraidit assured justice for the imam's family. The autopsy report on Yupa's body has not been issued.
He said authorities would exercise caution because some people had used the tragic incident to fan distrust of officials.
BP: Such strong talk from the top is pleasantly surprising - the quote about swift action is accurate as Isara News Centre have the quote in Thai.
Army Spokesman Col. Akara is also quoted by the Isara News Centre as saying that the 4th Army Region Commander [who is responsible for all of Southern Thailand] has ordered a special committee be set up to investigate and if there is evidence that the Imam was was physically attacked by military officials they would face criminal and disciplinary proceedings. He further said the reason the Iman was arrested was that they had forensic evidence and witnesses that the Imam was involved in the violence, particularly the attack on the District Chief officer for Rueso District on March 2.
The head of police for Narathiwat is quoted as saying that he has urgently requested the investigators to take testimony from the officers concerned, those arrested with the Iman, and the Imam's relatives in order to quickly proceed with the case. He says the investigation will be transparent and fair for all sides.
BP: Perhaps, they should show the same sense of urgency in other cases of torture or when a detainee dies in custody. I will wait and see if the investigation will be transparent and what kind of message will be sent to the military, police, border patrol police, and other government units operating in the Deep South on processing of detainees and those in custody.
0 comments
Post a Comment