Thailand’s disguised dictatorship gives soldiers new powers
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha signs decree that gives the military the power to arrest and detain people for up to seven days for 27 crimes. Ostensibly, this is due to the lack of staff in law enforcement agencies. For human rights groups, it is just another attack against civil liberties in the name of national security.
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In a surprise move made public late Tuesday evening, Thailand’s military strongman Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha signed a decree giving the military new broad police-like powers to arrest and detain criminal suspects.
Human rights groups immediately criticised the decision, accusing the general of violating civil liberties in the name of national security.
The order, published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette under the title ‘Suppression of wrongdoings that could threaten Thai economy and society’, gives army, navy and air force sub-lieutenants and higher ranking officers the right to summon, arrest and detain suspects in a wide range of crimes for up to seven days.
Military officers can act against people suspected in 27 different types of crime, including extortion, human trafficking, robbery, fraud, forgery, defamation, debt collection, gambling, child protection, prostitution, loan sharking and tour guide services.
General Prayut, the former army chief, issued the decree under Section 44. The latter came into effect in the spring of 2015 to replace martial law, and is the most contested part of the interim constitution.
It grants the prime minister the power to issue decrees "for the prevention, restraint, or suppression of any act which undermines public order or national security, the Throne, the national economy, or State affairs”. For human rights groups, it is essentially martial law in all but name.
“There are people whose behavior and wrongdoings are considered crimes. They threaten the country’s economy and society,” the decree says. However, given Section 44’s broad sweep, the military can arrest people without a warrant in any incident.
What is more Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwa said that the military would also act as interrogators and that they were taking on the new role because there were not enough police to tackle crime.
Since it took power in 2014 in a bloodless coup, the military junta has restricted freedom of expression, cracked down on public protest, and censored the media, journalists and scholars critical of the government.
Most recently (29 March), a 57-year-old woman in northern Thailand was arrested for posting a photo on Facebook of herself with a red plastic bowl inscribed with New Year* greetings from two former prime ministers, Yingluck and Thaksin Shinawatra, who have criticised the junta.
A military court in Chiang Mai released her on 100,000 baht (,800) bail pending a military trial. If found guilty, Theerawan Charoensuk could face up to seven years in prison.
* Songkran, or New Year, begins on 13 April.
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14/10/2023 16:52
23/03/2023 13:51
