Civic groups demand PM face probe

Civil groups yesterday lodged a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) demanding a probe into Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet over the postponement of the anti-torture law.

Led by the Institute for Justice Reform (IJR) and a support group for relatives of the Black May 1992 victims, they said Gen Prayut and the cabinet should be held accountable for damage caused by the delayed enforcement following the Constitutional Court ruling.

The groups said the Prayut government deliberately violated the charter when it issued an executive decree postponing enforcement of Sections 22–25 of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act.

The anti-graft agency should launch an investigation against Gen Prayut and the cabinet under Section 235 of the charter and submit its findings to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, according to the groups.

The complaint came after the Constitutional Court ruled last month that the executive decree postponing enforcement of the four sections of the law was a breach of Section 172 of the charter. With the court ruling, the anti-torture law came into force in its entirety on Feb 22 this year.

Pol Col Wirut Sirisawasdibut, secretary-general of the IJR, said the postponement of the law undermined the enforcement of the crucial law and Gen Prayut and the cabinet should be held responsible.

Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, also submitted a petition with the NACC seeking an inquiry against the cabinet and former justice minister Somsak Thepsutin.

Mr Srisuwan said Mr Somsak proposed the postponement of the law to the cabinet, which issued the decree before it was ruled unconstitutional.

He said the cabinet’s action was a serious breach of ethics, and the NACC was obliged to carry out an investigation and uphold ethical standards for political office holders.

Gen Prayut played down the prospect of a probe, saying the decree was issued out of necessity and the cabinet had consulted Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

The anti-torture law was published in the Royal Gazette last Oct 25 and was set to take effect this Feb 22.

But the cabinet approved an executive decree postponing enforcement of Sections 22-25 to Oct 1, citing a lack of budget to buy equipment like police body cameras, and a shortage of skills. That prompted a group of MPs to seek the constitutional court ruling.