After a rare demonstration by Muslim Malays in the restive Deep South, the Thai military on Wednesday evening released a Muslim Malay youth detained on allegations related to the insurgency.
The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 released Abdul-rohim Roya shortly before 7 pm on Wednesday at ISOC’s Sirindhorn Camp in Yarang District, Pattani Province. The release was made after members of Federation of Patani Students and Youth (PerMas) and civil society workers gathered at ISOC on Tuesday and Wednesday, demanding the release.
Abdul-rohim was detained at Ingkayut Borihan Military Base in Pattani Province for six days. There were reports that Abdul-rohim faced ill-treatment during pre-charge detention.
Friends and family greet Abdul-rohim Roya after his release. Photo courtesy of InSouth
Before his release, the military invited representatives of PerMas and civil society and members of his family to a meeting at Sirindhorn Camp. During the meeting, chaired by Maj Gen Chinnawat Mandech, Deputy Commander of Army Region 4, Abdul-rohim was seated as a "person who was invited." Chinnawat told the audience that the Army had planned to release him on Wednesday and the release has nothing to do with the pressure from student activists, adding that the Army has treated him well.
In the violence-plagued southernmost provinces of Thailand, formerly called Patani, composed of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla, the authorities can detain citizens without charge up to 37 days under the Emergency Decree and Internal Security Act. Special security laws have been in force in the region for more than 10 years. At least 54 Muslim Malays, arrested for alleged involvement in separatism, have reported torture and ill-treatment during this period.
Security officers from an unidentified unit on 31 December 2015 arrested Abdul-rohim at his house in Ra-ngae District of Narathiwat.
After being taken to a local military base, Abdul-rohim was transferred to Ingkayut Borihan Military Base and has been held there since.
The family of the suspect reported that the authorities told them that Abdul-rohim was summoned only for a discussion. However, on the fourth day of his detention, the authorities reportedly asked the family to convince the suspect to confess to an explosives attack targeting military officers and teachers which took place on 30 December 2015 in Mueang District of Narathiwat.
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