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Article 5

“Officials should regard detainees
as people with dignity and rights”

Commentary Mr. Nathee Chitsawang

Mr. Nathee Chitsawang, Director-General of the protect the rights of detainees and ensure that
Corrections Department, says that the above- they are able to fully enjoy their rights.
mentioned case is controversial because the To achieve this, he says that officials should
investigation is still ongoing. It is therefore strictly comply with and enforce the law. In
preferable not to comment on the specifics addition, proper surveillance systems should be
of the case. set up in prisons, including the installation of
closed circuit cameras, while prison environments
Torture and ill treatment is prohibited by Thai law. should generally be improved. Both officials and
Thailand became a party to the Convention detainees should be educated on human rights
against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or and both sides should change their attitudes
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) on 2 towards one other – officials should regard
October 2007. This was a very significant step for detainees as people with dignity and rights, and
human rights in Thailand, Mr. Chitsawang reports. detainees should not view officials as their
The rights of detainees have greatly improved enemies.
since the 1997 Constitution came into force, he
explains. Several independent agencies have State and public agencies should cooperate in
been monitoring the performance of state realizing these objectives on the occasion of the
officials, making them more cautious and aware 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
of the rights of detainees. However, he says that Human Rights, Mr. Chitsawang adds.
there is still a need to develop various systems to

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