The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday began hearing an appeal by two former Yala university students for greater compensation for torture and suffering when they were detained under martial law by the military in 2008.
Amizi Manak, left, and Isma-ae Tae at the Supreme Administrative Court in Bangkok on Tuesday (photo by Achara Ashayagachat)
Two Yala Rajabhat University students, Isama-ae Tae and Amizi Manak, were arrested under martial law in January 2008 by the Yala 11th Task Force and detained for nine days. They were both aged 22 at the time.
They were released without charge but both filed civil lawsuits later that year. The Civil Court in Bangkok agreed to submissions by the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Defence, the first and the second defendants, to transfer the case to the Administrative Court in Songkla.
The Songkla Administrative Court ruled in November 2011, ordering the two defendants to pay the first plaintiff, Mr Isama-ae, 255,000 baht and 250,00 baht to the second plaintiff, Mr Amizi, who had no medical bills to support his claim of torture.
The two plaintiffs appealed the Songkla Administrative Court ruling, seeking greater compensation -- 200,00 baht each for the physical assault and disruption to their lives, 500,000 baht each for causing insults and stigmatisation from neighbours and student colleagues, and 500,000 baht each in reparations under the 2007 constitution since revoked by the coup-makers.
In total they are seeking 1.2 million, plus interest at 7.5% per annum until the military pays the total sum and apologises in newspapers and informs all government agencies in the southernmost provinces and the university, by letter, that they are innocent.