[asia-apec 1490] Urgent! Arrest of 200 Villagers at Thailand Government House

[Li Yuk Shing Kevin]

Thai Government Denying Human Rights!
 Arrest of 200 Villagers at Government House

July 17, 2000

At 14:45 (2:45 p.m.) today (Monday, 17 July 2000), the Chuan government
ordered more than 1,000 policemen to forcibly remove protesters of the
Assembly of the Poor from the area around the Government House. One
group of 202 protesters inside the grounds of the Government House were
arrested and removed by about 600 policemen and women from the area in
more than ten vehicles. Somparn Kuendee, advisor to the Assembly and a
staff member of the Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN), reported by
cell phone just prior to herself being arrested, that a representative
of the police announced to the protesters that they had tresspassed onto
government property and would be arrested. While making the arrests,
Somparn said that some police harranged the protesters. At this moment,
the police took the arrested protesters to the Police Officer Academy
located at Klong Hok in Pathum Thainai and the Police Officer Academy
located at the Region One Border Patrol Police Headquarters in Salaya in
Nakorn Pathom.
 
Most of those arrested were senior citizens, women, and children, one of
them being only two years old. 
 
The other group of 500 protesters were pushed and beaten back across the
Prempracha canal by about 500-600 police armed with batons and shields
and their the vehicle with their loudspeaker was confiscated. About 30
villagers were injured. Two of them were so seriously injured that they
were sent to Wachirat Hospital for treatment.


At 3:15 p.m., a press conference was held at the SEARIN office by the
Academics for the Poor led by Professor Nidhi Iaosriwong from Chiang Mai
University and Mr. Somchai Sirichai of the Northern Farmer's Network. 
 
Professor Nidhi argued that we need to understand the historical context
of the protest staged by the Assembly of the Poor, particularly the Pak
Moon villagers who have been waiting for an acceptable resolution by the
government for 16 months. But the government has shown its indifference
to the suffering of the people despite the recommendations made by the
committee set up by the government itself to investigate the issue. The
actions taken by the government indicate the govenrment's apathy and the
consistent preference for violence in resolving conflicts with the poor. 
 
Professor Nidhi urged that the people in Bangkok and in Thai society in
general recognize the government's illegitimate use of violence and the
narrow-minded and undemocratic attitude prevalent in the Democrat-led
government. This can be used against other powerless segments of Thai
society any time. The fact that the affected people occupied the
premises of the Government House should be seen as their attempt to
negotiate with a government that refuses to listen to their
long-standing problems. Denied any other avenues to have their
grievances heard, they are given only this limited choice. The middle
class should understand that the protesters are not initiating any
violence or merely agitating. They have, on the contrary, been ignored
and deprived of their right to register their grievance.  

Mr. Somchai condemned the government and demanded the immediate release
of the detained villagers. 

We call upon our international network of friends and those concerned to
take action. First, please stage a protest at any Royal Thai Embassies,
especially in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Sydney and any country of the
European Union. Second, please send a fax to Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai or to any Royal Thai Embassy abroad. 
 
The message of any protest or fax should speak against the use of
violence, demand the immediate release of the arrested protesters, and
call for the government to comply fully with the recommednations of the
committee set up to address the 16 conflicts under the banner of the
Aseembly of the Poor. Most immediate is the opening of the gates at Pak
Mun Dam. However, the government must also immediately address the
remaining 15 unresolved issues, seven covering dams, another seven
concerning land rights, and a final one concerning the negative effects
of the Chong Mek Development Project.
 
***********************************
Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN)
78 Moo 10 
Suthep Rd, 
Tambol Suthep,
Muang 
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
Tel 66-53-278334, 66-53-280-712 
Fax 66-53-283609
Email: searin at chmai.loxinfo.co.th



-- 
Kevin Li
Researcher
Three Gorges Campaign and China Program
International Rivers Network
http://www.hk-sanxia.org