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Article 9

“The accused often lack awareness of

their rights and fear the authorities”

Commentary

Mr. Thongbai Thongpao
Mr. Thongbai Thongpao, a human rights feels that the accused often lack awareness of
lawyer, believes that in this case, the police their rights and fear the authorities, which
officers may have abused their authority. In increases the likelihood of false confessions.
his opinion, as the police officers were armed On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the
but out of uniform, the two young men may Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr.
have believed that they were robbers. And Thongpao proposes that government and
while the police claimed that the two young non-government actors, including
men were armed, they failed to provide educational institutes, should promote
evidence showing that they attacked the human rights education to raise public
police. awareness of basic human rights, including
the rights of the accused, and the duty of the
Mr. Thongpao says that since 2004, legislation state to protect those rights. He suggests
in Thailand has progressed in the area of training for lawyers to instil in them a
protection of the rights of offenders and the heightened responsibility to protect the rights
accused. For example, police officers are of the accused without fearing the power of
required to tell suspects why they are being police or other authorities. He also says that
arrested and inform them of their rights. In there is a need to enhance the power of the
practice, however, this legislation is often not independent audit system, such as the
enforced as many officials still maintain a monitoring role of the National Human Rights
negative attitude towards suspects and take Commission, to hold the state accountable in
advantage of their authority. Furthermore, he their obligation to preserve human rights.

Our Voices are Heard in Thailand 45