Security forces beat to death a Muslim man suspected in the execution-style slaughter of eight Buddhists in Thailand's On July 21, police and military officers raided a hut in Yala's Krong Pinang district to arrest five suspected members of a Muslim
A National Human Rights Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the press, said the commission visited three of the four other suspects at a military base in Pattani where they were being detained on Thursday and that they all said they had been beaten. The military said the suspects had violently resisted arrest. "The injuries were the result of fighting while the security forces attempted to round up the five suspects who tried to run away," said Col. Shinnawat Maendaet, the military commander in Yala province.
But Shinnawat said a committee would investigate the 15 army and police officials involved in the operation. He did not elaborate. "If they committed a wrongdoing, they will have to be prosecuted," he said.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said all all suspected insurgents are subject to due legal process. "We assure people that the authorities are strictly following the judicial process. There are no human rights violations and no beatings," Surayud said.