Truth panel seeks separate custody centre for political detainees

Human rights and political activists welcomed the government's decision to set up a separate jail to detain political prisoners, though one person voiced doubts as to whether those detained over lese-majeste charges should be included or not. This idea comes as part of recommendations from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT).

"It's good to keep political prisoners separate because they can be attacked by other criminals, such as murderers," Pichit Likhitkijsomboon, a key red-shirt member and an economist at Thammasat University, said.

He added that this was a move to recognise that political prisoners did exist in Thailand. "Let the critics recognise that there really are political prisoners in Thailand," he said.

Corrections Department director-general Pol Colonel Suchart Wongananchai had said earlier this week that his department planned to set up a new detention centre next Tuesday at the old Police Cadet Academy in Bangkok's Bang Khen area to house red-shirt protesters and lese-majeste suspects. Several red-shirt protesters, including one of the the movement's leaders Arisman Pongruangrong, were arrested in relation to rallies and riots in 2009 and 2010. Lese-majeste detainees include Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, Surachai Sae Dan and Daranee Charnchoengsilp aka Da Torpedo, whose 15-year sentence was upheld by the Court yesterday.

Suchart's statement also said that Bt5 million had been earmarked to refurbish the four-storey concrete structure, which comprises about 20 4x4-metre cells.

Pichit said the site had previously been used to detain political prisoners during the war against communism back in the late 1970s, adding that some of the prisoners, like late journalist and human-rights lawyer Thongbai Thongpao, had even finished writing a book while under detention.

"Let's make sure that the condition is not worse than that of a normal prison," Pichit suggested. "There should be more time for visitors and access to books on politics."

The idea also won backing from Suriyan Tongnue-eid, secretary of the Campaign for Popular Democracy.

"We must acknowledge that over the past five years or so, we have seen political struggles and can't deny that politics-related cases do exist," Suriyan said, adding that normal prisons were already too crowded.

However, he said, that those tried and detained for lese-majeste offences should not be included, though he admitted that this decision depends on "various viewpoints".

On the other hand, human-rights lawyer Sarawut Pratoomraj thinks lese-majeste detainees can be considered political prisoners, or even prisoners of conscience, and should thus be treated differently.

"Lese-majeste cases are about thought crime, about conscience. It's like you hold a religious belief that your society does not accept. These people have been detained and tried because they have an opposing view towards the monarchy institution," he said.

Sarawut recommends that these prisoners of conscience should not be forced to wear uniforms or have their hair cut short like normal convicts. They should also be given greater access to reading materials and longer visitation hours.

He said the government and the Corrections Department should study how communist insurgents and dissident political activists back in the late 1970s were treated under detention, though he does not believe they should be given special meals.