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NEED TO REFORM THE DSI FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THAILAND
nick@ahrchk.org

Please take a moment to sign the online petition we have begun to seek the removal of the head of the Department of Special Investigation in Thailand from his job, and reform of his department. Please also forward our appeals for signatures through your networks.

http://thailand.ahrchk.net/dsi_petition/

The DSI is a new department that was set up under the justice ministry and is separate from the police. It is the only agency inside Thailand that can investigate cases that is not under the police department. So it has the possibility to investigate cases where the police are the alleged perpetrators. But in fact, its director and senior staff are police officers, although the law on the DSI does not stipulate that they should be. And as the minister of justice and prime minister are also former police officers, at this time the entire chain of command over the DSI also is dominated by police or ex-police.

Not one human rights case has been solved by the DSI. On the other hand, it brags about its record on financial crimes and terrorism. The three cases of human rights defenders highlighted in the petition--those of Phra Supoj Suwajo, Somchai Neelaphaijit ( www.ahrchk.net/somchai) and Charoen Wat-aksorn--are among many others that the DSI has failed to investigate properly. There are also many other human rights cases about which it has been informed but not taken up. It has only taken those cases where there has been a lot of publicity and pressure, and even then it has done nothing.

The petition is being hosted on an AHRC webpage, but it was written by our colleagues in Thailand, not the AHRC. It is being signed by the relatives and close colleagues of those whose cases the DSI has failed. It is being launched to coincide with a commemoration progrramme on Sunday, July 18. ( http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1783/)

The petition is in Thai and English. I am pasting the English text below, with a link direct to the signature page. I look forward to seeing your name there.

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PETIITION: NEED TO REFORM THE DSI FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THAILAND

Dear Minister of Justice

Re: Need to reform the DSI for human rights in Thailand

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), established under the Ministry of Justice and authorized by the Special Investigation Act 2004 with aspirations to be "an interdisplinary organization that prevents, suppresses, and controls crimes that critically affects the economy, society, and security of state, as well as the international relations, to attain justice through expertise, transparency and public trust" has raised high public expectations for justice.

Thus far, we have found that--with the exception of the vigorous pursuit of justice for the sake of ruling politicians--several cases which have been deemed "unusual crimes that are complicated, and critically affect the social stability and public morals, masterminded by influential figures" as stated in article 21 of the act, have completely failed, including the following:

1. The disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit since 12 March 2004. With the Royal Police Commission 's indictment, only one of the defendants, who were police officers, was convicted of coercion to three years in prison (and released on bail during the appeal process), while the remaining four accomplices were acquitted. The DSI has accepted the case as a special case since July 2005 but no further attempts have been made to find other accomplices and the masterminds. Above all, up till now, the DSI has never been able to officially identify the status of the missing lawyer, even though the case has received strong attention and as solution to the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai would have a great impact on the violence in the south.

2. The murder of environmentalist and community leader Charoen Wat-aksorn on 21 June 2004. Two gunmen and three accomplices were arrested. The DSI rushed to conclude that it was merely due to a personal conflict. The villagers of Bo Nok very much doubt if the existing evidence and indictment ever will get the accused convicted. Moreover, no further investigation was conducted to find the masterminds, despite a litany of material evidence and witnesses pointing to the real cause of the murder, to which even the DSI once admitted: the campaign against a coal-fired power plant, and protection of the community's common land.

3. The murder of the conservationist monk Phra Supoj Suwajo in Fang district, Chiang Mai. He was brutally slashed to death on 17 June 2005. For one year, the DSI has not been able to come up with any leads: no suspects, no witnesses, no weapons and no material evidence, as a result of its initial inadequate investigation. Of late, the DSI's investigation team has called the relatives and involved persons for re-interrogation, claiming that it is reviving the case.

One of the common aspects of the three cases is that the missing and murdered were all prominent persons devoted to the common good and bravely fighting for justice, whose deeds invariably got in the way of those with vested interests, be they government officers, politicians and influential figures, local and national alike.

The failure of the DSI to quell organised crimes and terrorising acts inevitably disturbs the public confidence in the country's justice system. That may lead to ever more unrest and violence in the society, of which the government cannot deny the responsibility.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, ask the Government of Thailand through the Minister of Justice to:

1. Immediately relieve Pol. Gen. Sombat Amornvivat from the post of director general of the Department of Special Investigation, due to a lack of efficiency, incompetence, and his actions against the judicial process; and,

2. Appoint a new director general to the Department of Special Investigation through a transparent selection process with broader qualification criteria,

With the aim of improving the DSI to be independent, free from any influence and domination, so that it will be a vital part of attaining justice for people in Thailand.

Your consideration and action are appreciated.

To sign:
http://thailand.ahrchk.net/dsi_petition/signature.php