4 leaders and 7 supporters of the Partnership on Energy Reform – a platform of people proposing energy reforms to Thailand’s energy sector – were arrested on 20th August whilst on their campaign walk, entitled The Energy Walk.
4 leaders and 7 supporters of the Partnership on Energy Reform – a platform of people proposing energy reforms to Thailand’s energy sector – were arrested on 20th August whilst on their campaign walk, entitled The Energy Walk. The 4 leaders are MD. Supat Hasuwannakit, Director of Jana Hospital in Songkhla; Mr. Sakkamol Sangdara, Andaman Foundation Coordinator; Mr. Prasitthichai Nhoo-naul, an independent academic on environmental issues and Coordinator of the Network for the Protection of Nakhon Si Thamarat’s Food Resources; and Mr.Visuthi Thongyoy. The 11 marchers were arrested in Khuha Subdistrict, Rattaphum District, Songkhla Province. These marchers have been arbitrarily detained since their arrest at Senanarong army camp, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. The motive for arrest was the group’s violation of National Council for Peace and Order’s Order No. 7/2557 “to ban any gathering of five people and upwards and to inflict imprisonment of no more than one year and a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht or both for violation of such command.” Meanwhile, 4 members of the Partnership on Energy Reform are continuing the walk.
The Partnership on Energy Reform has been carrying out an awareness campaign on the energy sector to provide people with all the facts they need to form an informed opinion, instead of only relying on selective information. The Energy Walk campaign thus aims to give people information about Thailand’s energy sector and its needs for reform. This Energy Walk is therefore a non-partisan awareness raising campaign.
As repeatedly expressed by the leaders of the Energy Walk, this peaceful campaign is non-political and does not pose a threat to peace and order. This march is in no way a threat to national security as it doesn’t incite to public disorder. The participants are there to disseminate information and show their commitment to the energy reform proposals for the National Council for Peace and Order that the marchers are carrying.
Finally, we emphasise that International Human Rights Law prohibits emergency measures that would violate people’s Human Rights. As International Law, to which Thailand is committed, states that “any measure by the government can only restrict certain rights to an extent strictly necessary to meet a specific threat to the life of the nation.” As the Energy Walk is in no way a threat to the life of the nation, we see that the arbitrary detention of these marchers is illegitimately confiscating their right to move freely and perform awareness raising activities. The detention of any person because of their peaceful and good intentions to educate the public is a serious and excessive violation of their rights and liberties, which are guaranteed under International Law.
We call on the National Council for Peace and Order to:
Order the immediate and unconditional release of all 11 marchers, namely Ms.Kannika Phae-kaew, Ms.Vilaiporn Kosaiyakanont, Mr.Prasitthichai Nhoo-naul, Mr.Sakkamol Sangdara ,Mr.Visuthi Thongyoy, Mr.Anupol Kong-aiet, Mr.Chephadorn Chantrhom, MD. Supat Hasuwannakit, Mr.Sitthipong Sungsret, Mr. Promsak Jitjum, Mr. Theephadon Namsakhundjandon, and Mr.Ekkasit Benjasutanarong
Organisation/s Involved
- Justice for Peace Foundation, Thailand
- People’s Empowerment Foundation, Thailand
- Community Resource Centre, Thailand
- Consumers’ Association of Songkhla
- Consumers Foundation
- Suratthani Consumers’ Network
- Southern Thailand Consumers’ Network
- Civil Society Network of Chumphron
- Network of Eight Thai Mekong Provinces
- Network of Community Based Organizations in Seven Provinces of Northeastern Thailand
- Thai Sea Watch Association
- Thungtamsoa Habitat Conservation Network
- Federation of The Folk Fishery’s Associations of Thailand
- Northern Development Foundation
- Northern Thailand Land Reform Network
- Northern Thailand NGOs’ Collective Fund
- Southern Thailand NGOs’ Collective Fund
- Chana Habitat Conservation Network
- Thasala Hometown Conservation Network
- Thai Climate Justice Working Group
- Northern NGOs Coordination on Rural Development
- Southern NGOs Coordinating Committee on Development
- Southern NGOs Coordinating Committee on Development
- NGOs Coordinating Committee on Development
- Organic and Folk Fishing Project
- Rayong Provincial Small Scale Fishing Folk Association
- Songkhla Citizens’ Network
- Thai Network of Mineral Owners
- North-Eastern Natural Resources and Environment Network
- E-san Human Rights and Peace Information Centre
- Legal centre for Human Rights and Social Justice
- Cultural Ecology Study Group
- Community-based Alternative Media for Social Justice
- Project for a Campaign for Public Policy on Mineral Resources
- Khuha Community Right School
- Lanhoysiab Folk University
- Rattaphum-Kaungneing People’s Council
- Songkhla Community Rights Foundation
- Krabi Network for A Campaign Against Coal
- Ecology Protect Network for Samui-Phangan-Tao Islands
- Strong Family Group of Chana district in Songkhla Province
- Tam-Mun Project
- Network of Community Protection of Trang Province
- Stateless Watch
- Pattani Province Small-Scale Fisher Network Association
- Health System Management Institute of Prince of Songkhla University
- Asia Pacific Forum on Women , Law and Development (APWLD)
- GABRIELA National Alliance of Filipino Women, Philippines
- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia
- Protection International
- Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
- MARUAH, Singapore
How to Support The Campaign
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ekkachai Itsaratha Tel +0869578081 ( Thai )
Sor . Rattanamaneepolkla Tel +0817725843 ( English )