Four suspected insurgents who reject re-education are to face charges
A group of 28 victims of violent incidents in Songkhla province may sue four suspects who earlier agreed to undergo re-education in exchange for having their charges dropped but later reversed their statements.
The four suspects were identified as Abrik Samarnkud, Subee Sulong, Masabri Kabuting and Sapae-ing Waelae. Except for Abrik who was wanted for incitement of unrest, the three other suspects are facing nine criminal cases related to shooting and bombing incidents in Thepa, Na Thawee and Sabayoi districts of Songkhla, including the bombing of a market in Thepa district, on April 2, 2011 in which 16 people were injured.
The four suspects were escorted by police to Na Thawee provincial court on Monday January 23 for the court’s endorsement of their re-educational programme. However, they told the court they rejected the programme claiming that they were beaten up and forced to enter the programme.
The re-educational programme is made possible under Article 21 of the Internal Security Act to allow misguided insurgents to turn a new leaf by volunteering to join the programme in exchange for criminal charges against them to be dropped. Suspected insurgents eligible to the programme must prove that they were misguided to join the movement or to commit violence and they must willingly join the programme. However, the fourth army region in his capacity as director of the Internal Security Operations Command for the 4th army region and the court must approve the programme for the suspects.
Lt-Col Sompit Kongkaeng, chief of operations of Songkhla Task Force, however denied that the four suspects were beaten up and forced to join the re-educational programme. He claimed that their interrogation sessions were done in a transparent manner with religiouis leaders invited as witnesses.
He admitted that the reversal of statements by the four suspects had complicated the case because their victims had already been compensated with a promise that they would not take legal actions against the suspects.
Authorities will meet with the 28 victims for a discussion about how they should proceed legally against the suspects. The victims appear to be in favour of instituting legal actions against them now that they refuse to undergo re-educational programme as earlier agreed.
The lawyer of the four suspects, Mr Sitthipong Chantharaviroj, said that his clients are free to go anywhere as police have no powers to hold them in custody as the 84-day maximum detention period permissible by law has already lapsed.
The lawyer voiced his complaint after police escorted the four suspects to the office of the public prosecutors after the Na Thawee provincial court set the suspects free when they refused to enter the re-educational programme.
The provincial prosecutor however said he expected to have the four suspects charged in early March.
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Caption : Bombing incident in Thepa district of Songkhla province on April 2, 2011