BANGKOK — The Director of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was turned away by officials at Bangkok Remand Prison today when he tried to meet with four men who say they were tortured by military officers.

The four men, who are awaiting trial on terrorism charges, told their lawyers they were beaten by soldiers who detained them at an army camp for six days before transferring them to police earlier this month.

One of the suspects said he was electrocuted on his legs “30 – 40” times by soldiers because he refused to confess. 

NHRC director Niran Pitakwatchara (R) arguing with prison wardens at Bangkok Remand Prison, 25 March 2015.

NHRC director Niran Pitakwatchara visited the prison today with forensic science experts from the Ministry of Justice in an effort to investigate the torture claims.  

However, prison wardens said the group could not meet with the suspects because the visit had not been authorized by the Department of Correction’s director. 

"I am here as a director of the NHRC," Niran fumed after an argument with the prison wardens ensued. "I am a state official. I am not an NGO." 

Speaking to reporters afterward, Niran said he sent a letter to the Department of Correction on 20 March. 

"They spent four days deliberating on the letter, and they have not yet agreed to allow the NHRC to visit the detainees." Niran said. "This kind of incident has never happened before. According to international human rights principles, visiting detainees in prison is a necessary measure to prevent human rights violations. We are not even required to alert supervisors at each agency, because if we did, they may stage a scene for us." 

The director continued, "This is an urgent matter. The United Nations and other human rights organizations around the world asked the NHRC to investigate this incident. Furthermore, it is an issue that has a lot of attention from society."

Niran added that although the Thai army chief and other government officials have denied the torture allegations, an impartial investigation is still needed.

"This is why I invited officials from the Forensic Science Department to come along with me. It is for the sake of credibility and transparency," Niran said.

He also noted that the delay of his meeting with the four men could affect crucial evidence in the case. "Time will reduce clear marks on the body for inspection," he said. 

Niran said he will summon representatives from all relevant agencies, such as the military, police, prison, and lawyers of the four suspects for a meeting at the NHRC headquarters on 30 March. 

One of the suspects, Sansern Sri-unruen, shows Prachatai news evidence of alleged electrocution on his leg applied by soliders, 19 March 2015 [Prachatai].

The four men, Sansern Sri-unruen, Charnvit Jariyanukul, Norapat Luepol, and Wichai Yoosuk, have been accused of participating in a plot to "create chaos" and draw an intervention from the United Nations by staging bomb attacks around Bangkok. Police say the network was responsible for the grenade attack at the Criminal Court on the night 7 March. No one was injured in the explosion, which caused minor damages to the court’s parking lot.

At least 17 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the case so far.

All arrested suspects have been detained at army camps for up to seven days of interrogation prior to hearing their charges. They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted.

Related coverage:
Martial Court Denies Alleged Torture Victim Bail
Army Chief Threatens Legal Action Over Torture Allegation

An excerpt from junta chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha's press conference on 25 March 2015.

Known for his mercurial exchanges with the press, Gen. Prayuth rarely speaks from a script. His friendly jests can quickly transition into angy tirades, as he veers wildly between unrelated subjects, making gruff, vague declarations that can be difficult to translate and convey in short excerpts. Instead of attempting to write around select quotes, today Khaosod English has decided to publish an excerpt from this morning’s press conference to provide English readers with an unedited glimpse into the junta chairman’s style of speech.

Below is an excerpt from an especially heated discussion with reporters at the Royal Thai Air Forces Base this morning, prior to Gen. Prayuth's flight to Brunei, where he is scheduled to meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah:

Reporter: There has been a talk about a possible shift in the Cabinet, especially the team working on economic issues.

Gen. Prayuth: Only you people talk about there being a cabinet shift. If a shift will make it better, yes, but let me ask: under the current situation, will shifting people solve the problems? I want you to answer. Suppose that your newspaper, you want it to sell well, so you fire this damn reporter, fire that editor, will it be better? Problems cannot be solved so easily. The country has 70 million people. There are hundreds and thousands of issues. Join hands together, because today there is a good opportunity now that this government has entered [the scene]. Unite people to solve problems, unite all of the sides. Don’t end up criticizing everything, as though this is a normal government. Don't you understand that?

You want freedom, I gave you freedom. Everything. I never forbid anything. No one else gave it to you like this. I will wait a little while and see, about the working of the media. The things that I and the government have done are for all Thai people. But when I want to introduce new measures, you don't accept them. You want to go back to the same old place. The media makes society divided. And what can I gain from what I have done? I am not politician. I am not motivated by self interest. I do not have businesses. The reason why I am talking now is not because I want to remind you of your debt of gratitude. All the things I have done are for the Thai people. If anyone doesn't understand, they are not Thais. That's all. The media has to help. From now on, I will keep my eyes on all media [agencies] and, if necessary, I will use my power on everyone. I am not saying you cannot criticize me. You can criticize me, but you have to have some understanding. Today there are still the orders from the NCPO. Have you forgotten that? Have you? It's been too relaxing for you, maybe?

Reporter: If the media reports divisive news, will any action be taken against them?

Gen. Prayuth: Any media agency that causes divisions has to be dealt with by the [Thai Journalist] Association. Let it investigate them. But if the Association can't do anything, I will have the Council [National Council for Peace and Order] investigate them. Let's see whether that damn media agency causes divisions. If you criticize generally, I don't mind that. A little of criticism, I can accept that. But if you say every day that I am a failure, how the hell can I be a failure? The previous things were even worse than a failure. Now that I am here to fix it, things will get better from that failure, of course. Learn to think like that.

Reporter: So will you shut down the media?

Gen. Prayuth: Don't pick a fight with me, don't make me go to war with the media. 

Reporter: So what will be the punishment?

Gen. Prayuth: Execution, maybe? You ask silly questions. Just don't do actions [that warrant punishment]. Be cautious. The media has to exercise their judgment. Have some ethics. You keep calling for ethics. But they don’t know how to use ethics. They don't use that. Whatever constitutes cooperation with the people, lend me your hand. Whatever causes conflict, refrain from it. See that the government is working. But today, not a single newspaper says that. Very few, and only some people say that. I am not asking you to cheer me. I will use a dog-headed execution device [a mythical Chinese guillotine device]. I will deal with the media. But I still love them. Please, help me out. Don't make excuses for me, please just help me build love and unity. Now that we are here, let's change a crisis into an opportunity. Don't make a crisis into another crisis.

Reporter: Why don't you see these criticisms as suggestions?

Gen. Prayuth: Well, go look at all this criticism from the media. Is it constructive? They ask, can Gen. Prayuth work for the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy? Why are they even asking that question? Today I am here precisely for those things. How the hell is that constructive? 

[Gen. Prayuth orders his assistant to retrieve some newspapers from his car]

Gen. Prayuth: Let's see. And help me decide, does this damn person write well? Then I will say, don't buy their papers. Make them lose their jobs.

[Reporters say they have no more questions and urge Gen. Prayuth to hurry up for his flight to Brunei]

Gen. Prayuth: If I arrive late, I will inform His Majesty the Sultan that it is because of all of you. I am not angry today. I'm just in bad mood. 

[Gen. Prayuth’s aide returns with Matichon and Manager newspapers. Prayuth points to Matichon newspaper.]

Gen. Prayuth: Where's the reporter from Matichon group? Go take a look. Write your news well. Don't write news that supports the other side too much. Let me tell you, in the previous government Matichon sold really well in the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Dig it up. It's because the Ministry of Interior Affairs ordered people to buy only Matichon, so it hurt the businesses of other papers.

[Gen. Prayuth then comments on Manager newspaper.] 

Gen. Prayuth: Why make a big fuss? I don't understand. They want this. They want that. Especially Manager. I can't read a single page they write. Are they all mad? They write about nonsensical things every day. What do they want, huh? They are so intelligent. Come on, meung [Thai insult], come administer the country. Come serve as MP. Damn [ไอ้] Chatchawarn, damn Sophon [Manager columnists]. These people. This government says this, like this, if they want to criticize me, go ahead. I can take it. But I am a human. I'm not a Prime Minister who is not a human. I also have feelings. I have a life and feelings. 

Related coverage:
Media Must Do More Than Report Facts, Says Prayuth
 

BANGKOK — The leader of Thailand's military junta has vowed not to arrest fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he is spotted at the funeral of Singaporean’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew next week.

Close aides to Thaksin have told a number of media agencies that the former Thai PM will attend Lee’s memorial service on 28 March, a day before junta chairman and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is scheduled to arrive in Singapore for the state funeral.  

Thaksin, the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement, was ousted in a coup in 2006 and is living in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction over a land purchase.

When a reporter asked Gen. Prayuth this morning about the possibility of encountering Thaksin at the funeral, the general snapped back, "It's his business. How will it affect me? … I don't have anything [against him]. And I cannot go arrest anyone on my own anyway. He will attend the funeral on his own. It's up to him. Please don't write news that mixes up the issues."

Although Thaksin has not returned to Thailand since 2008, he has continued to influence politics from abroad and commands a strong following among Redshirts in the country’s northern and northeastern provinces. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, led the Redshirt-back government toppled by Gen. Prayuth in the May 2014 coup.

Critics of Thaksin, who loathe him as vehemently as the Redshirts love him, often compared Thaksin to Lee Kuan Yew because of their perceived similarity as elected autocrats.

A spokesperson of the military government, Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, confirmed today that Gen. Prayuth will not attempt to arrest Thaksin if the two meet in Singapore.

"If he does meet Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin, we cannot arrest him immediately, because it is a foreign space," Maj.Gen. Sansern said. "And it will be in a period of mourning, so that would be inappropriate." 

Gen. Prayuth told reporters this morning that he planned to pay respect to Lee, who died at the age of 91 on 23 March, because he personally admired how the former Prime Minister developed Singapore over the course of 50 years. 

"But Thailand is still at the same place 50 years later because we have been too busy fighting each other," Gen. Prayuth said. "Lee Kuan Yew once wrote that all the things he thought about and did were for the sake of Singaporeans. He didn't use any theories or any democratic theories. He only thought about how to move Singapore forward. He didn't use anything about democracy to lead the way."