Sutham Saengprathum

Sutham is the Secretary General of the NSCT and, prior to the coup, was outspokenly opposed to the US domination of his co country. On the morning of the coup he was arrested and taken to a military 'Special Prison' for political detainees, During his imprisonment he has been subjected to torture by electric shock and beatings from rubber-clad iron bars.

On June 17 this year, he was taken before a military court to be tried on 10 charges under Article 21 of the military dictatorship's 'constitutional' provisions. Article 21 gives the Prime Minister the authority to execute political prisoners without them having the opportunity to defend themselves — and in some cases, without even having heard the charges against them.

Three Thais have already been executed this year under this provision; there is no reason to hope that Sutham's fate will be any different from their's - unless enough international pressure can be mounted to dissuade the dictatorship from their intentions.