Using the emergency decree

With the emergency decree in place for a further 6 months, the government’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) continues to make good use of it.

The latest example involves threats against the Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit. He has made accusations that 11 red shirts are being detained at a military camp in Kanchanaburi and has called for investigations by, for example, by the National Human Rights Commission.

CRES spokesman and yellow-shirt pin-up boy Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd responded that CRES “had asked” the police and military in the province and they say no red shirts are held. So Colonel Sansern now threatens the opposition party spokesman with jail.

Sansern said the CRES would “ask police to summon Mr Prompong for questioning, so he could provide the information to the CRES. He said Bangkok is under a state of emergency and providing false information causing misunderstanding among the public and the media is prohibited. If Mr Prompong fails to provide sufficient information and a clear explanation for the allegation to the CRES, he will face being charged with distributing false information under the emergency decree…”. This could lead to 2 years jail and a fine.

Abhisit-style democracy now involves threatening all opposition, even that associated with parliamentary politics.

 Keeping control

The Irrawaddy, along with other outlets, reports that the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration has agreed to maintain emergency rule over the capital and 18 provinces, most of which are seen as red shirt strongholds. The basis for the decision was the government’s view – rejected by most independent observers – is that there remained “situations that require close monitoring and surveillance…”.

The extension is for 3 months. The state of emergency has been in place since it was initially declared in Bangkok and nearby provinces on 7 April. That declaration was just 3 days prior to the violent crackdown on protesters at the Phan Fa Bridge area. This means that the regime will have had extraordinary and dictatorial powers for at least 6 months.

The extension coincides with concerns being expressed for detainees. Sunai Phasuk of Human Rights Watch says: “A large number of protesters have been detained but no one knows the exact figures, or even their whereabouts.” Detainees do not always receive legal representation or visits from family members.

 Without lawyers

The Bangkok Post reports that the National Human Rights Commission has expressed concern that “more than a dozen” Thais arrested following the bloody 19 May crackdown on red shirts “have yet to get a lawyer and learn about the charges.” It seems that 2 of the foreigners arrested at the same time know of the charges but are also without legal representation, meaning that the charges remain unclear for them.

We wonder if the NHRC even knows how many people have been arrested. Independent agencies clearly don’t.

Even the most basic human rights are ignored in Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Thailand.