Indict soldiers over imam death: HRW

The Narathiwat court ruled on December 25 after an inquest that Imam Yapa Kaseng, 56, was tortured and killed by soldiers during interrogation from March 2021 last year at a Narathiwat military camp.

Prosecuting the soldiers will be a test of the administration of Thailand's new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has vowed to bring justice to the deep South, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

"The court gave a brave and unprecedented verdict in the inquest, putting its finger on torture and other abuses committed by Thai security forces," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The inquest determined that the cause of Imam Yapa's death was blunt force trauma, including rib fractures from the front, side and back that punctured his lungs.

"This is not an isolated case of rogue soldiers, but part of a broad pattern. Now it is Prime Minister Abhisit's turn to show political courage and ensure the prosecution of the soldiers and officers who ordered and carried out the killing."

Yesterday in Narathiwat, Thanong Pongprasert, director of the State Railway of Thailand for the southern region, said two workers were wounded by gunfire in Rangae district.

"We have to halt our maintenance activities. This has greatly disturbed the rail crew," Thanong said.

In Yala's Tambon Boh Seng, a bomb squad defused an explosive that was wrapped in a plastic bag and planted near an outdoor market.

Authorities said the fourkilogram device was meant to be set off remotely but the plan was disrupted when local residents alerted authorities of the discovery.