Panel Upholds Thailand Torture Claims from Villagers by Phairath Khampha 20 November 2002 Rangers used shocks to obtain confessions Rangers in Thailand's Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai tortured villagers, Thailand's National Human Rights Commission investigation found. They cited martial law to justify doing so, and intended to carry on despite complaints, said commissioner Surasi Kosolnawin. The panel had looked into claims by three people from tambon Wiang, Mae Ai district, that they were detained in holes, beaten up and given electric shocks by rangers from a special task force on October 18-20, 2002. The rangers seized money and cars and tried to make villagers confess to drug trade charges, they said. This was even though the villagers were completely innocent. Panel members visited the rangers' base and met task force commander Col Suthas Charumanee who admitted the accusations were true, he said. "The rangers claimed that martial law allowed them to make the raids and arrests without the need to get a warrant. They also claimed that the villagers took drugs. They caught the villagers, detained them in holes and beat them up in the hope of getting information," Mr Surasi said. Col Suthas had said many complaints had been received, but his unit would carry on regardless for the sake of the country. Mr Surasi said some 20 other Mae Ai people had petitioned Chiang Mai MPs about the way they were treated. The panel would ask Amnesty International about its report into the death of a Thai villager who was tortured in the same way in 2001. Its human rights protection subcommittee would write to the defence minister, third army chief and parliament president demanding a review of the military's drug suppression functions. The military should stop violating people's rights, he said, particularly when they had not committed any crime.