Kritsuda Khunasen, a red-shirt activist who in June was illegally detained by the junta for more than 20 days under suspicious circumstances, has left Thailand and is now seeking political asylum in Europe.
Kritsuda Khunasen (mid) appears at the Crime Suppression Division on 24 June
It has been confirmed to Prachatai that the embattled activist is now residing in Europe and plans to apply for refugee status in a European country. She has been assisted by the Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy (FTHD), an anti-coup group in exile.
An in-depth interview with her will be released on Prachatai next week.
Since she was released on 24 June, no media or human rights organization has been able to contact her.
In late June, Kritsuda was the focus of media and human rights organizations because during her detention, no one was able to contact her and it was not known where she was detained. After rumours that she was tortured, Kritsuda appeared on a special TV program with the military junta spokesman and said she was “happier than words can say”.
Under martial law, now in force across the country, the authorities may detain individuals only as long as is necessary and for no longer than 7 days. The length of Kritsuda’s detention therefore made it illegal.
Read related news: Red-shirt activist Kritsuda Khunasen released
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