The establishment of temporary remand facility in Nakhon Chaisri and the transfer of two suspects in the Erawan bombing to the temporary remand facility make the detention facility unaccountable and the suspects have no guarantee of their rights 

 

On 11 September 2015, the Ministry of Justice issued the Ministry of Justice Regulation no. 314/2558 regarding the territory of temporary remand facility in Nakhon Chaisri and the designation of temporary remand facility inside the complex of the Infantry Battalion, the 11th Military Circle located on Rama V Rd., Nakhon Chaisri, Dusit, Bangkok. The military barracks are being used as a temporary remand facility since it is supposed to provide for security and is appropriate for the detention and treatment of suspects committing offences against national security and other related cases. Since they are suspects in special cases, they should not be held in custody together with other suspects. The order was signed off by the Minister of Justice, Gen Paiboon Koomchaya.

 

Later on 12 September 2015, the Director General of the Corrections Department, Mr. Wittaya Suriyawong, told the press after the order had been published in the Government Gazette that the facility still needs some additional improvement to make it fit to accommodate suspects in the Erawan bombing. The renovation task is put under the charge of the Commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison who will oversee the new temporary remand facility. Military officials will be appointed as special wardens and as a result, they shall be authorized to have power as provided for in the Corrections Act B.E. 2479.

 

On 14 September 2015, the Director General of the Corrections Department has signed an order to transfer the two bombing suspects, Mr. Adem Karadag and Mr. Yusufu Mieraili, to be held in custody at the new temporary remand facility in Nakhon Chaisri. The two of them had been transferred from the Min Buri Prison to the new temporary remand facility the same day. 

 

The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) deems the establishment of temporary remand facility in military barracks and the appointment of military officials as competent officials as per the Corrections Act will make the facility unaccountable for outsiders. It will also compromise a guarantee of the suspects’ right to have visit by relatives and access to legal counsel and it will likely give rise to human rights violation. Human rights organizations, national and international, as well as media and general public are monitoring closely the execution of the order.