NHRC member to ensure protection for witnesses in Chaiyapoom killing

Pictures released recently appear to show that Chaiyapoom Pasae, a Mathayom 4 student and a role-model teenager, co-operated with a search by soldiers of his car at a checkpoint near his village on March 17.
The pictures, leaked by a Facebook page opposing the Single Gateway Internet control idea, appear to contradict the claim by authorities that Chaiyapoom resisted soldiers’ operations and pulled out a knife and a hand grenade before he was shot in self-defence by a soldier.
Some 20 representatives of non-governmental organisations yesterday urged the NHRC to launch a probe into the killing of Chaiyapoom.
NHRC member Angkhana Neelapaichit said a subcommittee, chaired by NHRC member Chatchay Suttiklom, would be in charge of investigating the extrajudicial killing to determine whether the soldier used excessive force.
“But I myself will try to discuss witness protection with local officials,” Angkhana said.
She said she had heard that a mentor of Chaiyapoom had found a bullet in front of his house, which could be considered a warning, after he tried to defend the activist’s name.
Kriengkrai Cheechuang, a coordinator for the Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand, said that witnesses to the killing were facing intimidation to keep them silent.
“The NHRC must act fast or information regarding the case will be distorted,” he said during his visit to NHRC headquarters.
Police and military officers have strongly suggested that Chaiyapoom might also have been involved in the drug trade. Soldiers have claimed 2,800 methamphetamine tablets were found in Chaiyapoom’s car following the shooting. Police have also said an anti-narcotics team had monitored Chaiyapoom for months previously on suspicion he was selling illicit drugs.
People close to the teenager disbelieve the accusations.
Rattanaporn Chuakaew, a coordinator of Dee Jung Young Team network, said she doubted the claims that Chaiyapoom was a suspected drug trafficker.
“We know Chaiyapoom. He was really on the path of an activist for constructive activities,” Rattanaporn said. “We will seek justice for him.”
Sumitchai Hattasarn, a lawyer from the Centre for the Protection and Revival of Local Community Rights, said he and two other lawyers would represent Chaiyapoom.
“Our team visited the scene of the shooting and found out that several locals witnessed the incident,” he said.
He said his team had not yet talked to Phongsanai Saengtala, who was with Chaiyapoom at the time of the shooting and is now detained in Chiang Mai Prison.
“His family has not yet agreed to appoint us as his lawyers so we can’t meet him,” Sumitchai said.
Justice Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said he would ensure justice to all sides in the case. “Those who feel injustice can lodge a complaint at the Justice Ministry,” he said.