Give people in South more say, renowned lawyer advises

Residents of Thailand's three southern-most provinces need to have a greater say in how the issues of separatist-related violence and decentralisation are being resolved, says human-rights lawyer Ratsada Manusasada, winner of this year's Somchai Neelapaijit Memorial Fund Award, which was announced yesterday.

"Local people should have as much participation as possible. They want to live in peace. The state will have to win their trust," said Ratsada, a lawyer for the Law Council of Thailand, who has been volunteering in the South.

Ratsada said that while torture by police is on the decrease, it's still not uncommon for suspected separatists to be tortured by the Army. He said even military conscripts are subjected to torture and physical abuse.

"They should ask themselves how they would feel if the victims of torture happen to be their family members," said the 52-year-old lawyer.

Also honoured yesterday were four other human-rights defenders who were short-listed for the award, which is named in memory of the Thai-Muslim lawyer and human-rights activist who has been missing since 2004 and is believed to have been murdered.

The other honourees are labour organiser and lese majeste detainee Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, garment workers union leader Jitra Kotchadej, migrant-labour advocate Adisorn Kerdmongkol and the Udon Thani Environment Group, a grassroots network in the Northeast.

The Foundation stated that the five "have fought to protect human rights bravely, vigorously, and at times they have put themselves in danger in order to defend human rights just like the disappeared lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit."