The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to ensure the human and judicial rights of political detainees.
The human rights body yesterday visited 14 detainees at Klongprem Central Prison, who are charged with violating Section 112 on lese majeste, defying martial law and NCPO orders, and possessing war weapons.
The detainees include anti-coup activist Sombat Boonngamanong, ex-Pheu Thai MP Prasit Chaisisa, red-shirt co-leader Yotwarit Chooklom, and Apichart Pongsawat, a Thammasat University master's student facing lese majeste and martial law violation charges after a gathering at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on May 23.
The two-hour visit of more than 20 human right advocates was led by Niran Phitakwatchara, chairman of the NHRC's sub-committee on citizen and political rights.
Dr Niran said the NHRC had received complaints that the junta had violated people's civic and political rights.
He said the visit was to check the detainees' living conditions, ensure authorities are complying with human rights standards in handling anti-coup activists, and offer possible assistance on court cases.
"All of the detainees demand the right to be released on bail in order to gather evidence and witnesses to fight in court. They want to go to the courts of justice instead of a military court so they can submit an appeal," he said.
Dr Niran said there was no need for the alleged offenders to be sent to military courts simply because martial law is in place.
"They are concerned about their safety at the prison because they face political charges, so they have asked to be separated from other detainees to avoid possible confrontations," he said.
He added that detainees fear for their safety because the authorities have recorded videos of their families and people who visit them.
"The NHRC will gather all suggestions regarding detainees' rights and work with the Department of Corrections and the detainees' lawyers before forwarding the issue to the NCPO," he said.
Meanwhile, deputy NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree yesterday responded to the concerns of Human Rights Watch, which is calling for an information on the disappearance of red-shirt activist Kritsuda Khunasen, 27.
Ms Kritsuda was arrested by the junta in Chon Buri on May 28. Her family and friends say that she has not been seen since. The military has provided no information on whether she is being held, but included her on a list of people summoned to report to authorities earlier this week.
Col Winthai said the NCPO had simply summoned Ms Kritsuda for questioning as she was thought to have possibly violated the Computer Crime Act. He said she has yet to be charged.
"The NCPO respects human rights and no one who was earlier summoned by the NCPO was mistreated," he said.
Former education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng meanwhile faces another charge of breaking the 2007 Computer Crime Act, bringing the total jail term he could face from nine to 15 years.
Mr Chaturon already stands accused of violating the NCPO's summons order and instigating unrest when he spoke at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand on May 27.
At the Bangkok military court yesterday, police sought to detain him for a third round of 12 days until July 2. The court approved the police request but Mr Chaturon will not be detained since he is already out on bail.