BANGKOK — Thailand's Minister of Justice has defended the decision to separate thirteen pro-democracy activists held in prison into different sections, which the activists say is an effort to puncture their morale.

Gen. Paiboon Kumchaya said the decision made by Bangkok Remand Prison was completely "in accordance with steps and regulations of the prison."

"For the first few days, inmates stay in Section One, and then they go through the categorizing procedure," Gen. Paiboon told reporters.

"Each person is categorized and separated into different sections. According to regulations, people in the same [criminal] case are not held together in the same area." 

The thirteen male activists are being detained in Bangkok Remand Prison, while another 22-year-old female activist is being held at a separate prison for women.

All fourteen – eleven of whom are university students – are facing up to seven years in jail after they were arrested one week ago on charges of violating the junta's ban on protests and inciting unrest with a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration. Bangkok’s martial court ordered the fourteen to await trial in prison. 

The thirteen male detainees were initially held together in prison’s First Section, where all newly-arrived inmates are kept, but were separated on the evening of 1 July. The activists’ lawyers have expressed concern that the separation will make it more difficult to arrange meetings with the group. 

Gen. Paiboon also said he has instructed Witthaya Suriyawong, the chief of Corrections Department, to inform the thirteen activists that they are eligible for the Ministry of Justice's fund to post bail.

"They can have their relatives and parents file for the bail fund," he said. "But if they don't want to post bail, that's also fine. The Ministry would hold it that we have already done our duty." 

Speaking to Khaosod at Bangkok Remand Prison yesterday, the thirteen activists repeated their resolve not to post bail because they do not accept the military court’s authority to try them.

Thailand’s junta granted military courts jurisdiction over all “national security” cases shortly after seizing power in a coup on 22 May 2014.

The thirteen men also had their heads shaved by the prison barber in a show of unity against the prison’s separation order.

"I believe it is a direct order from the NCPO [the junta] to stop us from talking and consulting with each other, and to pressure us into requesting a bail release," said one of the activists, Rangsiman Rome, through glass in the prison's visiting room. "But we insist that we will not post any bail, because we are confident that we didn't break any laws. If they want to release us, they have to release us as innocent people."

Witthaya, the Department of Corrections director, said separating suspects is standard practice.

"Let me insist that this separation of the students is not a special case," said Witthaya. "New inmates keep arriving in Section One every day, and there are few officials to take care of the prisoners. But once they are moved to new sections, there are more officials to take care of them. There's also CCTV monitoring safety of the prisoners 24 hours a day."

In a statement released yesterday, Amnesty International called the 14 activists "prisoners of conscience who have been stripped of their freedom for excercising their human rights in a peaceful way."

"We urge authorities to release the 14 students immediately and unconditionally," the statement said. Amnesty International also demanded that "Thai authorities repeal or amend any laws and orders aimed at restricting the exercising of rights and freedoms to peaceful assembly."

The United Nations, European Union, and Human Rights Watch have also publicly condemned the case this week and urged Thai authorities to swiftly drop the charges. 

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BANGKOK — Prison wardens will transfer one of the fourteen anti-junta activists arrested last week to a prison hospital tomorrow to treat wounds she reportedly suffered from a police crackdown a month ago, an official said.

Niran Pitakwatchara, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), delivered the news to reporters after visiting the 22-year-old activist, Chonticha Chaengrew, at Bangkok’s Central Women’s Correctional Institution today.

Chonticha is one of the fourteen activists arrested last week on charges of violating the junta's ban on protests and inciting unrest. The other thirteen activists, all men, are being held at a separate prison in Bangkok for male inmates.

The Commissioner told reporters that Chonticha is suffering pain in her arms and legs from when security officers forcefully dragged her and other activists away from a peaceful sit-in in front of Bangkok Art and Culture Center on 22 May – the first anniversary of the coup d'etat that brought the current junta to power.

Plain-clothed officers drag activists from a peaceful anti-coup sit-in in front of Bangkok Art and Culture Center, 22 May 2015

According to Niran, Chonticha was seeking treatment from a public hospital prior to her arrest last week, and an MRI scan provided by the hospital showed that she has a herniated spinal disk. 

"Based on the latest discussion, I have learned that Department of Corrections officials will transfer Ms. Chonticha to receive physical therapy at the prison hospital on 3 July," Niran said. 

Niran also said he is concerned by the prison wardens' decision to separate the 13 other activists to different sections in Bangkok Remand Prison.

"I worry about their safety, and whether it will make them lose opportunities to consult with their lawyers about their legal cases," Niran said, explaining that it will be difficult for the lawyers to arrange a meeting with all of the thirteen activists at the same time. 

"The students still insist their actions were right under human rights principles," Niran told reporters, adding that the fourteen will not post bail in martial court because they reject the military court's authority to try them.

After seizing power, Thailand’s military junta granted military courts jurisdiction over cases that affect national security. The move has been frequently criticized by human rights groups. In martial court, military officers serve as judges and there are no opportunities to appeal. 

This week, junta leaders, including chairman Gen. Prayuth Chano-ocha, have dismissed calls from the UN, EU, and human rights groups to drop the charges against the activists.

BANGKOK — Pro-democracy activists in Thailand have accused soldiers of intimidating the family of Chonticha Chaengrew, one of fourteen anti-coup dissidents in jail for leading a peaceful demonstration against the military government.

According to the activists' lawyer, Kritsadang Nutcharus, three soldiers arrived at Chonticha’s home yesterday and requested to talk to her mother. 

The three soldiers reportedly told Lamun Chaengrew that they were dispatched by their commander to discuss her 22-year-old daughter’s political activities. 

"One of the soldiers asked her, 'How did you raise your daughter into a person with attitudes like this?'" Kritsadang said. "Ms. Lamun replied that her daughter is a grown adult, who has her own thoughts. 'How would you raise your children?' she asked."

The soldiers also asked Lamun who was "behind" Chonticha and the 13 other activists arrested last Friday for leading an anti-coup demonstration in front of Bangkok’s Democracy Monument. Junta leaders have accused the activists, most of whom are university students, of being backed by high-level politicians. 

Lamun dismissed the allegation, Kritsadang said. The discussion reportedly lasted for around one hour. 

The New Democracy Movement, a group formed by the fourteen activists a day before they were arrested on 26 June, called the visit "an act of intimidation." 

"We hereby condemn the imperious action of security officers, and we demand the military junta to stop intimidating and threatening families of the students, their lecturers, and the people, regardless of the means," said a statement published by the group on Facebook. 

Yodpol Thepsithar, a law professor at Naresuan University, was also reportedly visited by a group of police officers at his office today after he and 280 lecturers signed a petition calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the fourteen activists. 

The officers questioned the professor, mostly about the background and political activities of other lecturers who signed the petition, and about the political climate at his university, Matichon reported.

Speaker to reporters today, the deputy chairman of Thailand's junta said the soldiers were only trying to "have a chat" with Chonticha's mother. 

"Let me insist that the military is not intimidating anyone,"said Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also Minister of Defense. "The media has to help people think. Don't ask questions that cause conflicts. I'd like to ask everyone to follow the government."

According to their lawyer Kritsadang, all of the detained activists say they have been "treated with dignity" in the prison so far.

However, Rome Rangsiman, one of the jailed activists who is a law student at Thammasat University, will miss his bar exam this Saturday after Thailand's Lawyer Council rejected his request to take the examination in prison, Kritsadang said.

The group has been charged with inciting unrest, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers sit as judges and appeals are not permitted.