Advertisement

Amnesty’s Thailand torture allegations spark arrest threat

A Thai soldier mans a checkpoint as others look on near Pattani, in southern Thailand April 13, 2007. The human rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 accused Thai military of engaging in systematic torture including beatings and electric shock that killed at least four people in a campaign to defeat Islamic insurgents in the restive south. AP Photo/David Longstreath

BANGKOK – Thai authorities have threatened to arrest Amnesty International speakers who were set to hold a news conference to release a report detailing allegations of torture at the hands of the military and police, causing the rights group to cancel the event.

Beatings, suffocation by plastic bags and electric shocks of the genitals are among the torture methods used by Thai soldiers and police under the military government, according to the Amnesty report, which was sent to news organizations earlier this week but was to be officially released on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Turkey coup attempt: Amnesty, Human Rights Watch warn about abuse of detainees

Before the news conference began, Ministry of Labor officials warned Amnesty that the two speakers set to talk about the report did not possess work permits and therefore risked arrest if either one spoke on stage. Amnesty then cancelled the event.

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices