Torture claim bad for govt
- Published: 8/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The disturbing report by the National Human Rights Commission on alleged torture and other illegal acts against red shirt detainees comes at a crucial time. In coming days, the post-May 19 Truth for Reconciliation Commission is to make its report. Advance leaks from the TRC claim that security forces have stonewalled all inquiries into the deaths during the violence of last April and May. The NHRC has pinpointed alleged abuses or carelessness by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation. The government must meet these allegations seriously and directly.
According to the NHRC report, the CRES was a serious violator of basic rights. The NHRC's subcommittee on civil and political rights reported arrests of innocent people, coercing confessions by threats and intimidation. Most shocking were charges by the NHRC of the use of torture against some of the 422 people arrested for violating the emergency decree. The report said those arrested included obviously innocent bystanders. Among them were a dozen persons over 60, some with health problems, and several young students. They were said to have been imprisoned for up to 20 years after quick trials during which they had inadequate defence.
It seems that on the heels of these serious allegations by the human rights commission, the news will not get better for the government. The inquiry which was to kick off an effort at truth and reconciliation has apparently not gone well at all. Former attorney-general Kanit na Nakhon and members of his TRC will not be giving the full story behind the 92 deaths in the April-May violence. The TRC is reportedly ready to blame security forces. In attempting to determine what happened in those dark days, Mr Kanit and aides met a solid, stone wall of silence from the military, the police and the CRES.
All of this is fodder for the always loud propaganda machine of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and red shirt factions. But there are other, more important principles at stake than making political points.
First and foremost is the constitutional direction under which the government directs the security forces. Reconciliation has been declared a national priority by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Yet neither he nor Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban - in nominal charge of security throughout the crisis - seems to have been able to get a drop of cooperation from the uniformed forces.
If the investigation by Mr Kanit fails to explain just how so many people were killed in the terrible violence, neither truth nor reconciliation has much of a chance. The Department of Special Investigation has already indicated similar problems. The DSI reported that about a dozen of the deaths in a street battle last April were probably caused by red shirt supporters. Since then, it has had no further report on what and who killed the others.
Family and friends of the two foreign journalists killed in the confrontations also have been frustrated.
Logically, in the heat of terrible clashes, security forces were involved or at least close to many of the fatalities. Yet the great stonewall has admitted no involvement, let alone responsibility.
This is a serious test of government intentions and ability. Mr Abhisit and ministers owe the public a better explanation than silence.
Without an accounting for the deaths of April and May, reconciliation will remain a goal far out of reach.
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