The strong arm of the law

Army Col Burin Thongprapai, the strong army of the Judge Advocate General's office within the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), personally signs charges against opposition figures and groups, and in many cases demands courts martial instead of trials.

The most heavily armed military member in Thailand in the most heavily armed unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces is the head of the Judge Advocate-General (JAG) office of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

He proved it again last week.

In May of 2014, the coup-makers handed the keys to the JAG office to Lt Col (since promoted to full colonel) Burin Thongprapai, a trained and experienced lawyer who dedicated himself to military service instead of opening a law office.