Rights group questions suicide of suspected Thai Muslim insurgent

Jun 17, 2010, 5:18 GMT

Bangkok - Human Rights Watch on Thursday called on the Thai government to investigate the alleged suicide last month of a suspected Muslim separatist held in army custody.

Sulaiman Naesa, 25, hanged himself with a towel on May 30, at the Inkhayuthboriharn army camp in Pattani province, 650 kilometres south of Bangkok, according to army officers.

But Sulaiman's relatives and local human rights groups told Human Rights Watch that they saw signs of torture on his body, including blood dripping from his genitals, a wound on his neck, and one apparently from a sharpened object on his back.

'Sulaiman's death raises concerns that soldiers are once again using torture and other illegal methods against detainees,' said Elaine Pearson, acting Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Army personnel told Human Rights Watch that Sulaiman was accused of involvement in 14 insurgent attacks on civilians and security personnel.

Following his arrest on May 22, Sulaiman was detained without charge under the Emergency Decree.

The decree effectively provides security forces with legal immunity and broad powers to detain individuals without charge for up to 30 days.

In retaliation for Sulaiman's death, several insurgent cells have stepped up attacks in Pattani province that included shooting of four civilians, Human Rights Watch said.

'Insurgents justify attacks on civilians by saying they are retaliating against abuses by Thai security forces, and the army responds in kind - it's a deadly and vicious circle,' Pearson said. 'Prosecuting troops for mistreatment could help calm the situation and rebuild trust with the Muslim community.'

More than 4,000 people have died in the violence in Thailand's deep South, comprising Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, since January 2004 when separatists raided an army depot killing four soldiers and making off with 300 weapons.

The insurgents, an amorphous group of Muslim militants fighting for greater autonomy or independence from the predominantly Buddhist state, have adopted tactics to avenge any show of force by the authorities.

The incident sparked a series of brutal government crackdowns, which turned many of the area's 2 million people, 80 per cent of whom are Muslim, against the central government.