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‘We Walk’ rights march organisers sue police over alleged obstruction

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‘We Walk’ rights march organisers sue police over alleged obstruction

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

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THE LEGAL team representing the People GO Network are suing the Royal Thai Police and three high-ranking policemen for allegedly disrupting and intimidating the “We Walk” peaceful demonstration and violating people’s right to gather in public.

 

After sending the complaint to the Administrative Court yesterday, E-Law Foundation lawyer Surachai Trongngam said the suit accused police of violating public-assembly rights and asked the court to order that police cease operations that limited the right to demonstrate peacefully. 

 

The suit also asks the court to order police to facilitate the protesters’ long march and to pay them Bt100,000 as compensation for previous rights violations.

 

The People GO Network, an umbrella group of 97 public organisations, launched the 450-kilometre-long march from Bangkok to Khon Kaen last Saturday in a campaign drawing attention to the need for state welfare, universal healthcare, food security, freedom of expression, human rights and a just society for all.

 

However, from the very first hours of their march, participants faced interference as police and military officers tried to stop the march by labelling the walk as a political protest prohibited by order 3/2558 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

Surachai said the operation to suppress and intimidate protesters during the first two days of the “We Walk” march were in clear violation of their right to stage a peaceful protest, which is guaranteed by the current Constitution.

 

“We had already notified the local police last Friday of the demonstration and that we would follow the procedures under the Public Assembly Act. We assured the police that our protest is not a ‘political protest’, but when we started our long march on Saturday, the group faced several actions from the police to stop the protest,” he said.

 

“I confirm that this activity does not violate NCPO order 3/2558.”

 

Surachai said the complaint to the court was spearheaded by four members of the protest – Lertsak Khamkongsak, Nattawat Uppa, Wasinee Bunthee and Nimit Tian-udom. 

 

They named as defendants the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Klong Luang Police superintendent Pol Colonel Rittinan Puipanthawong, Pathum Thani police commander Pol Maj-General Surapong Thanomjit and Ayutthaya police commander Pol Maj-General Sommai Prasit over their actions to allegedly obstruct the peaceful demonstration.

 

Nimit said that despite the heavy interference by the officers, the group was determined to walk to Khon Kaen to highlight the severe problems of human rights violations under the military-led regime, regardless of whether officers tried to abduct the march participants.

 

“Right now we walk in groups of four people to deter authorities’ actions,” Nimit said. “Our long journey is full of uncertainty as the officers threaten anyone who tries to help us. We do not even know where we will sleep tonight and whether we can continue our march tomorrow.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30336894

 
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-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-23

 

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

THE LEGAL team representing the People GO Network are suing the Royal Thai Police and three high-ranking policemen for allegedly disrupting and intimidating the “We Walk” peaceful demonstration and violating people’s right to gather in public.

I have great respect for these brave people taking a stand and making a statement.

 

However, this is a political battle, not a legal one. If they (or anyone) get sucked into playing the game on the military's battlefield, then they have lost before they begin. The Junta makes the laws and the courts have always sided with the PTB, regardless of the issues.

 

Proceed with the lawsuit by all means, but never forget that the battle will not be won there.

 

The  men in green must have succeeded in putting their guys into the leading positions of the police force. 

3 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

The  men in green must have succeeded in putting their guys into the leading positions of the police force. 

The key word phrase is "high ranking".  These people are probably tools and shills of the powerful.  The powerful prefer anonymity, bullying and use of force, as opposed to debate, discussion and, heaven forbid, compromise. 

I think that the new constitution only guarantees certain rights, like that to gather, with significant restrictions (common good as deemed by the authorities), and oversight, along with huge punishments.

 

And of course, various/sundry Article 44 decrees banning "political" gatherings remain, strangely, in force. I wouldn't want to be a member of the constitutional court these days.

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I have great respect for these brave people taking a stand and making a statement.

 

However, this is a political battle, not a legal one. If they (or anyone) get sucked into playing the game on the military's battlefield, then they have lost before they begin. The Junta makes the laws and the courts have always sided with the PTB, regardless of the issues.

 

Proceed with the lawsuit by all means, but never forget that the battle will not be won there.

 

I think those brave activists know it is a futile attempt. It is the symbolic action of defiance that will comes through in this atmosphere of intimidation. A beacon of light for the growing number of citizens disgust with the junta and give them hope that some are fighting back.

38 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

I think those brave activists know it is a futile attempt. It is the symbolic action of defiance that will comes through in this atmosphere of intimidation. A beacon of light for the growing number of citizens disgust with the junta and give them hope that some are fighting back.

Futility would be accepting things as they are.  The junta might be treading on toes that has gotten other governments in trouble in the past, as well as, irking the populous.  Thin ice comes to mind.  Just recently what little credibility the junta once had has now shrunk dramatically.  Wonder how much more they can take.  The red leadership and organization is looking strong.  The Yellows are starting to, all too slowly, make changes.  The outside world could start see pressure from political parties and will question the juntas mandate to rule the country.  The junta fears the outside world the most.

Edited by yellowboat

Good luck with that. More chance a snowball in hell. I hope the leaders of this protest keep their heads down before they mysteriously disappear.

5 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Good luck with that. More chance a snowball in hell. I hope the leaders of this protest keep their heads down before they mysteriously disappear.

Perhaps, having made the splash, they would be better keeping a high profile - it is much more difficult to "disappear"  someone who is in the public eye.

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