The cabinet agreed in principle Tuesday on a draft law for the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearance, a proposal touted by the military regime as a key mechanism to better protect the rights of detainees.
"The essence of this bill is that clear punishments will be imposed on those found responsible for any violations of detainees' rights or their disappearance," said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
The draft law will apply to all proven wrongdoers whether they are civilians or state officials, said Maj Gen Sansern.
More importantly, no such exception will be made for any state official to justify their acts that may be deemed a violation of the detainees' rights, whether the country is in a state of emergency, at war or in any other type of security-related situation, he said.
The proposed statute of limitations for this draft law is 20 years, he said.
"Those whose freedom is limited [assumed to be people detained by state officials] are entitled to contact their relatives, lawyers or trusted people to inform them where and how they are being detained," he said.
The bill was drafted and proposed by a committee established to look at the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearance chaired by the justice minister.
Thailand adopted and ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2007, said the spokesman.
He added Thailand has already adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and expects to ratify it very soon.