US concerned over Thai military’s new police-like powers

The United States yesterday, expressed deep concerns over Thailand’s powerful military getting expansive police-like powers by the ruling junta to arrest and detain criminal suspects, reports the Bangkok Post.

The US State Department voiced further concerns when the Thai authorities issued an order extending the internal policing authorities of the military to seize assets, search premises, and summon, arrest, and interrogate civilians.

"We continue to urge the Thai government to limit the role of the military in internal policing and to allow civilian authorities to carry out their duties,'' said Katina Adams, department spokeswoman for East Asia."This includes returning the prosecutions of civilians to civilian courts and providing adequate due process and fair trial protections.''

This decree, which was made last week from the National Council for Peace and Order chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha comes amid a wider crackdown on civil liberties since he took power in a coup in 2014.

Under the decree, soldiers who are ranked sub-lieutenant and higher have the power to detain suspects for up to seven days in 27 different types of crime, including extortion, human trafficking, robbery, fraud, forgery, defamation, debt collection, gambling, child protection, prostitution, loan sharking and tour guide services.