Niran blasts Corrections for 'undermining' torture probe

Niran blasts Corrections for 'undermining' torture probe

National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara (left) is stopped at the entrance to Bangkok Remand Prison as he arrives to visit four men who claim they were tortured while being interrogated by the military over alleged involvement in a March 7 grenade explosion at a deserted Criminal Court parking lot. Corrections Department staff said senior officials were considering Mr Niran's request for a visit. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara (left) is stopped at the entrance to Bangkok Remand Prison as he arrives to visit four men who claim they were tortured while being interrogated by the military over alleged involvement in a March 7 grenade explosion at a deserted Criminal Court parking lot. Corrections Department staff said senior officials were considering Mr Niran's request for a visit. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

A Human Rights Commissioner has blasted the Corrections Department for undermining the watchdog's investigation into claims of torture by the Criminal Court bomb suspects.

Niran Pitakwatchara, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) sub-committee on civil and political rights, and other members of the commission were denied entry Wednesday to the Bangkok Remand Prison where the suspects were detained.

Dr Niran was accompanied by other sub-committee members and staff from the Central Institute of Forensic Science.

Officers denied them entry, saying the Corrections Department had yet to approve the prison visit.

The four accused in the March 7 grenade attack alleged they were tortured while detained by the military. Sansern Sriounruen, Chanwit Chariyanukul, Norapat Luephon and Wichai Yusuk said interrogators electrocuted them, slapped, punched and kicked them in the head, chest and back to force them to confess to the blast.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for a probe into the allegations.

Dr Niran blasted prison officials, saying the NHRC was not an NGO and worked according to the law, citing Section 4 of the interim charter which recognises Thailand's obligation to enforce protection of rights and liberty.

The NHRC should be able to show that despite being under martial law, checks and balances remain, he said.

"Prison visits are a standard practice guaranteed under NHRC law. The NHRC has never come across any obstacles to prison visits in the past."

Prison visits without advance notice are lawful. However, the NHRC wrote to the prison on Friday saying it intended to make the visit.

Forcing the NHRC to work under a climate of fear would undermine the country's reputation, he added.

"The international community is watching Thailand with concern surrounding allegations of abuse against suspects. Having a neutral body look into the matter should benefit the work of the Prayut government," Dr Niran said.

Also on Wednesday, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released letters of inquiry dating from Aug 22, 2014, sent by its special rapporteurs on human rights, questioning the government about allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture, ill-treatment and sexual harassment during the detention of red-shirt activist Kritsuda Khunasen.

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