Chulalongkorn University present and former students would appeal to the university rector this afternoon to seek the government’s clarification of the fate of the history associate professor now under detention without any charges.
A hundred signatures are expected in the open letter to be handed over to Rector Pirom Kamolratanakul at 3pm.
Spearheaded by the Faculty of Political Science, the letter appeals for Dr Pirom to get contact with the Center for Restoration of Emergency Situation (CRES) since the university’s personnel Mr Suttachai Yimprasert has been detained since Monday under the Emergency Decree without proper charge.
“We plead the top executive of the prestigious university to quest for justice and clarification of the indecent detention of an academic from Faculty of Arts, associate professor Suttachai Yimprasert,” the letter said.
Chulalongkorn University, the appeal letter said, needs to ensure the academic liberty and freedom of expression which sometimes might not be in line with the government but should not be considered a national security.
Meanwhile, Saraburi-based Cavalry Unit’s chief of operations and intelligence section Col Sombat told Bangkok Post that Mr Suttachai has stopped his hunger strike and received his academic materials.
Col Sombat said Mr Suttachai remained under detention as the Court has agreed for another seven-day extension.
Mr Suttachai’s wife Bayan Imsamran and lawyer Krisdang Nutjaras are re-visiting the history teacher at the Adosorn Camp (Cavalry Unit) this morning to get further information about his condition.
Meanwhile another group “Thammasat Community Against Extra-Power” are also seeking to meet the Parliament speaker on Tuesday to press the legislative branch to seek the CRES explanation about Suttachai case.
The civic group, which few years ago laid black wreath against its own rector Surapon Nitikrapot for encouraging the army to pressure the elected government under Somchai Wongsawat to dissolve the parliament, said Mr Suttachai who was an alumnus of Thammasat University deserves equal justice instead of being detained for the second week.
Earlier, another group of Mr Suttachai’s friends have circulated information to foreign human rights organizations about the lecturer’s hunger strike.
“Sutthachai is detained in a solitary unit. So is Mr Somyos Pruksakasemsuk who was arrested at the same time. Neither of them has been charged. In fact the arrests of them involved deception by the authorities. Both had got warrants to report to the police for some questioning. They complied. The police told them that they would bring them to the Crime Suppression Headquarter. Instead, they sent them to the Adisorn Army Camp in another province,” said Silapakorn Univeristy’s philosophy lecturer Boonsong Chaisingkananont.
“Mr Suttahcai has diabetes, requiring insulin injections twice a day. The lack of food may have serious effects on his condition, including a danger to his life,” said Mr Boonsong.
Conversation between the detained academic and his wife was also recorded by five soldiers who stand around the couple, he said.
Legally, neither is Sutthachai nor Somyos a law-breaker or a criminal since there is yet any charge, said Mr Boonsong. “They are detained for interrogation. But they have been treated as if they were felons. Their treatments are more severe than the UDD leaders who are detained at the Naresuan Police Camp.”
Source: Bangkok Post
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