Pressure builds as students are released from prison yet still await trial
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 9, 2015) -- Following Tuesday’s release of the 14 student activists in the New Democracy Movement (NDM), ENGAGE (Educational Network for Global and Grassroots Exchange) and Thai allies living in the U.S. claim they are prepared to continue applying pressure until their demands are met.
This week, ENGAGE members and their allies staged protests at Royal Thai Consulates in New York, NY, Portland, OR, Los Angeles, CA, and Chicago, IL, delivering a list of demands calling for their respective Consul Generals to denounce the controversial Article 44 of the 2014 Interim Constitution which establishes restrictions on political speech and assembly, as well as the release of their Thai student friends from prison without condition. Their protests were met with confirmation stating that their demands had been forwarded to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok for review.
ENGAGE claimed the students' release as a small victory for the NDM and its allies, yet stated they are prepared to continuing fighting until charges are dropped against the 14 students and justice, political participation, democracy, and human rights are achieved in Thailand.
"Tuesday’s release is a good example of how peoples power can challenge a military junta,” said Jude Peckinpaugh, a member of ENGAGE who recently returned from Thailand. “While our friends are free for now, they still must stand trial in military court and could face up to seven years in prison for expressing their political opinions."
The students’ release is just one small step towards justice in Thailand. While the 14 were freed from custody, the country remains imprisoned by restrictions placed on citizens under Article 44.
“Thailand is still far from free as Article 44 continues to have violent and negative impacts on poor communities throughout the country. Villages like Na Nong Bong (Loei Province), where mining operations continue as normal and villagers voices have been silenced, are among those affected,” reported Mike Aguilar, an ENGAGE member previously living in Thailand. “Therefore, organizing in the United States is of utmost importance as we continue to fight against oppression and apply pressure to the unpopular and illegitimate NCPO.
ENGAGE plans to continue meeting with representatives from consulates throughout the U.S. and maintains that they will continue organizing demonstrations and protests until the New Democracy Movement’s goals are met.
Below is their letter of demands for the Consul Generals in the United States:
We stand today in solidarity with Thai students and villagers who have been deprived of democracy, excluded from political participation, subject to injustice, and stripped of human rights, despite engaging in nonviolent action to have their voices heard under the oppression of Article 44.
As a result of Article 44, Thai civilians cannot assemble in groups larger than five individuals to discuss politics, can be detained for seven days without charges or bail, and are tried in military court, as opposed to civil court with no possibility for appeals. Additionally, Article 44 grants absolute authority to a single entity, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
We are specifically concerned with the injustices faced by our friends, students in the Neo-Democracy Movement, and villagers in the Na Nong Bong community in Loei province; the latter have already been experiencing violations of their human rights due to the Tungkum Limited (TKL) gold mine operating in their community. These groups have attempted to organize for their human rights, but have faced oppression from the Thai government under the provisions of Article 44.
Thai citizens do not have the right to speak freely for themselves. Therefore we present the following demands to amplify the oppressed voices of the Neo-Democracy Movement and Na Nong Bong community:
This week, ENGAGE members and their allies staged protests at Royal Thai Consulates in New York, NY, Portland, OR, Los Angeles, CA, and Chicago, IL, delivering a list of demands calling for their respective Consul Generals to denounce the controversial Article 44 of the 2014 Interim Constitution which establishes restrictions on political speech and assembly, as well as the release of their Thai student friends from prison without condition. Their protests were met with confirmation stating that their demands had been forwarded to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok for review.
ENGAGE claimed the students' release as a small victory for the NDM and its allies, yet stated they are prepared to continuing fighting until charges are dropped against the 14 students and justice, political participation, democracy, and human rights are achieved in Thailand.
"Tuesday’s release is a good example of how peoples power can challenge a military junta,” said Jude Peckinpaugh, a member of ENGAGE who recently returned from Thailand. “While our friends are free for now, they still must stand trial in military court and could face up to seven years in prison for expressing their political opinions."
The students’ release is just one small step towards justice in Thailand. While the 14 were freed from custody, the country remains imprisoned by restrictions placed on citizens under Article 44.
“Thailand is still far from free as Article 44 continues to have violent and negative impacts on poor communities throughout the country. Villages like Na Nong Bong (Loei Province), where mining operations continue as normal and villagers voices have been silenced, are among those affected,” reported Mike Aguilar, an ENGAGE member previously living in Thailand. “Therefore, organizing in the United States is of utmost importance as we continue to fight against oppression and apply pressure to the unpopular and illegitimate NCPO.
ENGAGE plans to continue meeting with representatives from consulates throughout the U.S. and maintains that they will continue organizing demonstrations and protests until the New Democracy Movement’s goals are met.
Below is their letter of demands for the Consul Generals in the United States:
We stand today in solidarity with Thai students and villagers who have been deprived of democracy, excluded from political participation, subject to injustice, and stripped of human rights, despite engaging in nonviolent action to have their voices heard under the oppression of Article 44.
As a result of Article 44, Thai civilians cannot assemble in groups larger than five individuals to discuss politics, can be detained for seven days without charges or bail, and are tried in military court, as opposed to civil court with no possibility for appeals. Additionally, Article 44 grants absolute authority to a single entity, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
We are specifically concerned with the injustices faced by our friends, students in the Neo-Democracy Movement, and villagers in the Na Nong Bong community in Loei province; the latter have already been experiencing violations of their human rights due to the Tungkum Limited (TKL) gold mine operating in their community. These groups have attempted to organize for their human rights, but have faced oppression from the Thai government under the provisions of Article 44.
Thai citizens do not have the right to speak freely for themselves. Therefore we present the following demands to amplify the oppressed voices of the Neo-Democracy Movement and Na Nong Bong community:
- Rescind your support for Article 44
- Demand civil, not military, trials for all civilians
- Demand the reduction of military harassment on community and student groups
- Submit a request for the release of the following 14 students from the Neo-Democracy Movement from prison and for the charges against them to be dropped:
- Rangsiman Rome
- Chonticha Chaeng-rew
- Ratthapol Surasopon
- Songtham Kaewpanpruek
- Pornchai Yuanyee
- Pakron Arrekul
- Abhisit Sapnaphana
- Jaturapak Boonpatararaksa
- Apiwat Suntararak
- Payu Bunsophon
- Panupong Srithananuwat
- Suwitcha Thipangkorn
- Supachai Pukrongply
- Wasan Sethsitthi
- Demand investigation of the May 15, 2014 attack on Na Nong Bong community, and any consequential prosecution of the perpetrators
- Demand suspension of the TKL gold mine activities until the environmental, social, and health consequences of the mine on Na Nong Bong community have been investigated and properly resolved
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