Home Op-Ed Human Rights Groups Question Thailand’s Failure to Prosecute
Human Rights Groups Question Thailand’s Failure to Prosecute PDF Print E-mail
Written by เลขาธิการศูนย์ทนายความมุสลิม   
Monday, 20 April 2009 17:27


Human Rights Groups Question Thailand’s Failure to Prosecute Security Officers Involved in Krue Se Mosque Incident
 
28 APRIL 2009 
 
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), along with the Human Rights Committee of
the Lawyers Council of Thailand, the Cross Cultural Foundation, the Working Group on
Justice for Peace, and the Muslim Attorneys Centre, request the Attorney General to
provide a public explanation for his decision not to prosecute certain officers involved in
the security operation that killed 28 suspected insurgents at the Krue Se Mosque five years
ago.


The Krue Se Mosque incident has enormous symbolic importance for Thailand’s Malay-
Muslim population, particularly in the southern border provinces. Local perception of a
lack of justice has contributed to the violent insurgency in the Deep South, which has
claimed more than 3,400 lives in the past five years.

“This decision appears to contradict the findings of high level independent investigations,
including by the National Reconciliation Commission, that the Thai security forces used
disproportionate force and that the case should be formally pursued through organs of the
justice system,” said Roger Normand, ICJ Asia-Pacific Director. “At minimum, it is 
incumbent on the Attorney General to provide evidence and reasoning for deciding not to
prosecute the responsible parties.”

The Government of Thailand has recognized the need to prioritize respect for the rule of
law, especially in high profile cases, as the basis of a just and lasting resolution to the
conflict. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has publicly stated that his government “has
made it a clear policy that the key to peace in the south is justice”. Since coming to power
four months ago, Government representatives have made similar commitments to
national and international media.

The International Commission of Jurists, the Human Rights Committee of the Lawyers
Council of Thailand, the Cross Cultural Foundation, the Working Group on Justice for
Peace, and the Muslim Attorneys Centre are deeply concerned that the Attorney General’s
decision will undermine the prospects for peaceful resolution by furthering the perception
that the Government is unable or unwilling to apply the rule of law in cases of alleged
violation by security forces in the Deep South.


Background:
The basic facts of the case are not in dispute. On 28 April 2004, 28 men armed with guns and knives
attacked the Krue Se security checkpoint and then fled inside the mosque. Soldiers and police officers
surrounded the mosque. In the ensuing operation, the security forces killed everyone inside the
mosque.

After extensive investigations, the government-appointed Independent Commission of Enquiry into
Facts about the Krue Se Mosque Case concluded that the use of heavy artillery constituted
disproportionate force inconsistent with international standards such as the United Nations’ Basic
Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. It identified high ranking officers
responsible for the operation and recommended that investigations should be pursued through organs
of the justice system. In addition, the Pattani Provincial Court conducted a post-mortem inquest report
and identified three ranking officers as being responsible for the killings.

For further information, please contact:
Roger Normand, ICJ Asia-Pacific Director, +66 84 524 1133 (English)
Somchai Homlaor, Cross Cultural Foundation Chairperson, +66 81 899 5476 (Thai)
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 June 2009 10:34 )
 

ร่วมรณรงค์ ยกเลิกกฎหมายพิเศษ

Copyright © 2010 macmuslim.com. All Rights Reserved.
Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.

Powered by Joomla!. Designed by: Free Joomla 1.5 Theme, ftp encyclopedia. Valid XHTML and CSS.