The young brother of a medic slain in the closing hours of the 2010 violence at Wat Pathum Wanaram was released Tuesday after a five-day detention by the army.
Nattapat Akkahad, 25, was detained with five red shirt leaders in a military raid on the UDD protest at Utthayan Road in Thon Buri on May 22, just minutes after martial law was formally declared.
He was released Tuesday morning.
Mr Nattapat appeared regularly on the rally stages organised by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), but spoke mostly about seeking justice for his sister and companions killed on May 19, 2010 at the wat, said Payao Akkahad, his mother.
"He was taken away before my eyes but I couldn't do anything," she said on Tuesday. "I was forced to sit in a line with other red-shirt people on that day at the Aksa rally."
Ms Payao, 49, lost her daughter Kamonkade in the closing hours of the tumultuous and bloody army attack in 2010 against UDD supporters in central Bangkok.
Payao Akkahad, left, and her son Nattapat (Photo by Achara Ashayagachat)
"It is heartbreaking that I lost Kade (the daughter's nickname) and four years later Gan (Nattapat's nickname) was detained at gunpoint. I may have to be charged for making noise after the coup too. But what else can a mother do?" said Ms Payao.
She picked up her son at the 1st Army Region Tuesday morning. Mr Nattapat was detained at another military post just outside Bangkok.
Mr Nattapat said he was forced to sign a declaration promising not to engage in anti-coup activities as a condition of his release. He said he still felt he had to speak up.
"Thailand and the world should know that physical conditions for the political detainees are not fabulous as [coup authorities] said on TV," said Mr Nattapat, hours after his release release.
The mother and son both called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to clear up questions by families about those who have been detained. While the NCPO has ordered hundreds of people to report to junta headquarters, it is unclear who, and how many have been detained, incommunicado.
Amnesty International Thailand said more than 250 people including students and villagers were "summoned" throughout the country, although there is no way to confirm the number.
Dozens of scholars and activists claim they were harassed by military phone calls and house visits as well as visits to their parents' provincial houses.
The North and Northeast experienced more such visit-and-search tactics. Many of those who were previously outspoken in advocating elections or criticising martial law have gone into hiding.
Sukunya Prueksakasemsuk, wife of lese majeste political prisoner Somyos, along with her eldest son and daughter, were brought to the Army Club in Thewes for more than five hours of questioning. Her computers and phones were confiscated.
Amnesty International, Thailand Chapter, has called on the NCPO to compile and release a list of all those summoned and held, including the place of detention.
"The NCPO should stop arresting people who decently and innocently organise peaceful anti-coup activities," Amnesty International Thailand said. "If arrested, they should be charged with a criminal offence; otherwise they should be freed." Detainees should also have access to lawyers and family contacts, the group added.
Mr Nattapat said he was kept four days before being informed he was detained as a threat to national security.
Ms Payao had spent hours in the past four days banging on doors, seeking information on the whereabouts of Nattapat, the middle child of three by birth.
She inquired at the Army Club, used by coup commander Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, and appealed to both UN officials and foreign diplomats. When anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban was released with 12 core members of his People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Monday, she also appealed to the Attorney-General to make sure Mr Suthep was served with pending charges for murders in 2010.
Mr Suthep was deputy prime minister in charge of security when the 2010 violence took place, and nearly 100 people were killed. He was notified of several charges on Monday, but was released on bail totalling 700,000 baht.
About 1,000 protesters turned up for an anti-coup demonstration at Victory Monument on Tuesday, including these women with home-made signs.
