THAILAND
CONFIDENTIAL
Report by HM Embassy, Bangkok
General Observations
1. The human rights situation in Thailand took a turn for the worse following the National Administrative Reform Council (NARC) coup of 6 October 1976. This ended three years of democratic government, during which time the political prisoners of the previous military government (which was toppled in October 1973) were all released. Following the coup, over 5,000 people were arrested under NARC Order No 22 (13 October 1976) which lists 9 categories of people considered a "threat to society". Under this Order the authorities are empowered to detain people for 30 days, for investigation, after which they may be sent without trial to "Reformatory Institutions" for unlimited periods. NARC Order No 25 (of 17 October 1976) widened the scope of existing anti-communist legislation and empowers the authorities to detain suspects without trial for up to 180 days in areas declared to be communist infiltrated.
2. Many of the decrees issued by the military regime since the coup infringe human rights. However, they are not strictly enforced and the present Government, mindful of its international image, although authoritarian, is by no means repressive by international standards. It has, however, already detained more people than any previous Thai military government and could well lurch further to the right.
Right No.
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(i) About 5,000 people (out of a population of
43 million) are detained under ÑARC Order No 22 (13 October 1976). The detainees include alleged left-wing subversives, drug traffickers and Vietnamese refugees. are detained in prisons and jails pending the construction of "Reformatory Institutions".
Most
(ii) There have been no reports of torture of
detainees, but detainees are thought to be held in conditions of overcrowding.
(iii) Slavery is illegal. However, reports of rural
children being sold or kidnapped to work in brothels or factories appear from time to time.
(iv) Under NARC Orders No 15 (8 October 1976) 17
(9 October 1976) and 20 (11 October 1976), the media are forbidden to publish or broadcast material which promotes communism, affects national unity, defames the Monarchy, etc. The Government have decreed that media output should promote patriotism, loyalty to the Monarchy and respect for religion. Government control of the media is not heavy, but several newspapers have been closed for infringing official guide- lines. The press are still feeling their way, but have been able to criticise some aspects
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