Intimidation against villagers who oppose coal-fired power plants must stop
Press Statement: The Bamnet Narong Conservation Group The military must stop intimidating villagers opposing the ASEAN Potash Chaiyaphum PLC’s coal-fired power plant. A Story of Struggle and Resistance For over a year, the villagers of Bamnet Narong District in Chaiyaphum, Thailand, have been locked in a battle against the construction of a coal-fired power plant. […]
Thai Government enacts law to criminalize torture & enforced disappearances
After the recent review of Thailand at the 25th Session of the UPR in Geneva and receiving much pressure from the international NGO community, we welcome the decision of Thailand to criminalize torture and enforced disappearances. As the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has reported more than 80 outstanding cases of forced […]
URGENT CALL TO THAI GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW COMMITMENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Member States of the United Nations (UN) gathered in Geneva for the 2nd cycle of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Thailand. Community-based human rights defenders and civil society organizations welcome the statement by the Thai delegation led by the Minister of Justice, that Thailand acknowledges it is “their duty that […]
HRDS discusses the civil society perspective following the UPR review of Thailand
Following the review of Thailand by the UPR Working Group on 11 May 2016, the ‘Human Rights Defenders at the UPR Thailand 2016’ side event will discuss the views of civil society from 13h00-14h30 at the Palais des Nations. Human rights defenders in Thailand remain at high risk for protecting their communities and their environment. […]
A Call to End Vigilante Dispersal at Public Events in Indonesia
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a statement concerning the protection of the right to freedom of expression and assembly in Indonesia. Over the past two months vigilante groups have forcibly dispersed groups at peaceful events, countered only with an indifference by police about protecting these rights of expression. Examples of forced dissolution […]
UPDATE: Targeted shooting of HRD in Thailand
UPDATE: Following the targeted shooting of community-based human rights defender Supoj Karasong, on Friday 8th April 2016, the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) has taken measures to care for Supoj Karasang, as well as to lobby relevant authorities to take action to investigate on the attack and provide protection for Khlong Sai Pattana community and […]
LOEI PROVINCIAL COURT DISMISSES CHARGES AGAINST HRDS IN THAILAND
The Loei Provincial Court dismissed charges against 6 community-based human rights defenders of Khon Rak Ban Koed (KRBK) for a civil lawsuit that was filed by the Tungkum mining company in 2015. Members of KRBK had hung a banner in front of the village gate that read “This Village Doesn’t Want Mining” which the mining […]
Thailand: The struggles of land and environmental rights defenders
Land and environmental rights defenders in Thailand are struggling to make their voices heard, particularly since the 2014 coup d’état. Since then, the shrinking space to address their concerns has been drastically compromised. Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Thailand have been systematically criminalized, prosecuted, and even killed for their human rights and environmental work. In 2015, […]
Human Rights Defenders Battle Civil Lawsuit in Thailand for Hanging Banner
In Thailand on 24 February 2016, 70 villagers travelled to the Loei Provincial Courthouse to show their support for the 6 community-based human rights defenders from Khon Rak Ban Kerd (KRBK) involved in a civil lawsuit at the Loei Provincial Court. According to affidavit number PorPan 574/2558 filed by Tungkhum Co. Ltd, the gold-mining company is seeking […]
Thailand: End Impunity and Ensure Justice for Community under Attack
Protection International calls for action on the first anniversary of the murder of the human rights defender Chai Bunthonglek, a member of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand. His fight for communal land titles continues despite impunity and several attacks on other peasants’ rights defenders. Protection International Thailand calls for action to support and protect community-based human rights […]