Cycle of deep South violence fuelled by military culture of impunity

[webfact]

Cycle of deep South violence fuelled by military culture of impunity 

By Sunai Phasuk  
Special to The Nation

 

 

The recent arrest in Yala province of a militia member linked to numerous murders and other crimes raised hopes that the Thai government was finally getting serious about countless abuses carried out by its security forces in the restive southern border provinces. 

 

Abdulhakeem “Hakeem” Darase is allegedly responsible for a long list of murders of ethnic Malay Muslim men and women accused of involvement with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement. 

 

But since his arrest on June 13, suspicions have grown over whether he will ever face justice. 

 

Citing martial law powers, the military is holding Hakeem in their custody – claiming that they need to question him about his possession of assault rifles and other military-grade weapons – instead of handing him over to the police. As a result, the police cannot press charges against him. And so far, no criminal investigation into any murder cases has begun.

 

BRN insurgents have cited alleged abuses against Hakeem  as a justification for reprisals. Of course, Hakeem has not acted alone. Since the armed conflict in southern Thailand began 15 years ago, the government has not prosecuted a single member of the security forces for unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, or other serious abuses against ethnic Malay Muslims. In many cases, authorities have given financial compensation to the victims or their families in exchange for their agreement not to pursue criminal prosecution of officials. Activists and others who speak out face intimidation and prosecution for damaging the reputation of the military. 

 

The BRN insurgents have committed countless abuses during the war, including bombings of crowded civilian areas such as markets and targeted killings of teachers, monks, medical personnel, and others considered to be representatives of the ethnic Thai Buddhist state. Although claiming to be acting on behalf of ethnic Malay Muslims, most of the BRN’s victims have been from that population. Since January 2004, more than 6,000 people have been killed in southern Thailand since January 2004.

 

The government should take an important step to break this cycle of violence by ordering the military to transfer Hakeem to police custody for a transparent and impartial criminal investigation and to be prosecuted as the evidence warrants it. There can be no excuses. 

 

Sunai Phasuk is a senior researcher  for Human Rights Watch.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30371436

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-20

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[Lungstib]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Citing martial law powers

The Martial Law Act 1914 is clearly a wonderful piece of protection for the military and also enables the complete takeover of government as we have seen many times. This is one summation I found :  The provisions of the Martial Law Act place no restraints or limits on the military’s actions. Under the law, the military, without judicial oversight, can prohibit any activity, censor the media at will, outlaw meetings and assemblies, search and seize any item, occupy areas, and detain people without charge for up to seven days.

Perhaps a change is in order.

[mikebell]

It's like expecting Thai police to do something to bring down the daily death figures.

[boonrawdcnx]

I have been reading this for the last 40 years! Nothing has changed really.
Criminals in uniform breaking the law - murdering with impunity! But why single out the South? - They have been breaking the law and murdered with impunity in the middle of Bangkok for several decades as well.


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[Orton Rd]

What head in the sand rubbish, the insurgency, or Jihad is fulled by Islamic doctrine, the article only refers to Muslims when claims are made about them being victims of the military, religion is the cause  of the violence.

[Ozman52]

Prosecuting one murderous muslim mongrel will help stop the cycle of violence - fat chance.

[connda]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Cycle of deep South violence fuelled by military culture of impunity 

Cycle of deep South violence fuelled by two disparate cultures both of which act with rigid impunity in regards to the other. 
Terrorism meets The Military.  What can go wrong? 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Lungstib said:

The Martial Law Act 1914 is clearly a wonderful piece of protection for the military and also enables the complete takeover of government as we have seen many times. This is one summation I found :  The provisions of the Martial Law Act place no restraints or limits on the military’s actions. Under the law, the military, without judicial oversight, can prohibit any activity, censor the media at will, outlaw meetings and assemblies, search and seize any item, occupy areas, and detain people without charge for up to seven days.

Perhaps a change is in order.

Martial Law can be invoked without PM consent by the Army Chief.

But if one is pro-military, martial law doesn't apply.

"Martial law does not affect our civil uprising... We still retain our right to demonstrate against this tyrannical government." - Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (May 2014)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27480845

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Martial Law can be invoked without PM consent by the Army Chief.

Which brings one to the absurdity that the Minister of Defense that is traditionally filled with an active duty general who has in effect more governing power than an elected prime minister who may not be pro-military or was elected on an anti-military platform.