Groups issue statement of support for ‘We Walk’ marchers

By The Nation

 

Photo from People Go Network Facebook page

 

Almost 150 organisations have released a joint statement demanding that authorities stop exercising their absolute power to intimidate ‘We Walk’ marchers.

 

This followed the listing of arrest warrants against eight prominent members of the demonstration movement on allegations of gathering more than five persons for staging a political protest, which is banned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

A total of 144 organisations issued the statement on Tuesday denouncing the oppression of the campaigners of the long march for protecting citizens’ rights and demanding that the authorities respect freedom of expression.

 

The umbrella non-governmental organisations People GO Network started their long march from Thammasart University in Pathumthani to Khon Kaen last Saturday to campaign for the protection of universal health coverage, food security, community rights, and political rights. However, from the very first hours of their march, the activists faced strong interference from the police and military officers.

 

The NCPO saw their activity as a political protest and hence a violation of NCPO order 3/2558, so its representative filed a complaint with Klong Luang Police in Pathum Thani on Sunday against eight prominent members of the march. This is despite the fact that the marchers have tried to avoid violating this order by dividing into separate groups of four persons.

 

“The organisations listed below commonly view that this march is the rightful exercising of freedom of expression, which is protected by the current Constitution and does not affect national stability, but it will disturb legislation and policy planning of NCPO to benefit some capitalists, so we support this campaign, as it alerts the public to this problem,” the statement reads.

 

It was also claimed in the statement that oppression of the activists in this campaign was a vivid example of the unjust use of power by the NCPO against the people. It urged the NCPO to protect the people’s rights, accept the campaigners’ demands, and return full democracy to Thai society.

 

Meanwhile, the People GO Network has asked for donations of equipment for their communication team to broadcast via Facebook Live, as they have had difficulties in properly broadcasting the whole march during the first days of their campaign.

 

Their list of needed equipment was: five mobile phones, two external batteries, two tripods for mobile phone, and two selfie sticks.

 

The group stated on their Facebook page that they did not want money donation and did not need expensive equipment, as they just required usable communication tools for broadcasting live throughout the march.

 

It was reasoned that they have to broadcast all their journey live to let people easily watch their campaign and prevent any unexpected operations against the protesters.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30337026

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-24

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A total of 144 organisations issued the statement on Tuesday denouncing the oppression of the campaigners of the long march for protecting citizens’ rights and demanding that the authorities respect freedom of expression.

People were bound to start talking back at some point.  It is good to see the junta under scrutiny and being criticized.

where is the list of the 144 organizations?

the junta is going to have to change the constitution quickly so that they can actually win the next election, then be able to call themselves fairly elected.

but i dont see them giving up power.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Almost 150 organisations have released a joint statement demanding that authorities stop exercising their absolute power to intimidate ‘We Walk’ marchers.

Outnumber them; that's the best way to deal with bullies who think they can walk the walk and talk the talk, just so long as the odds are in their favour. Turn those odds around and they'll soon be seen to be running, e.g. "summonses withdrawn due to insufficient evidence," within a week or so. They're becoming almost predictable.

Edited January 24, 20188 yr by Ossy
omisson

9 hours ago, webfact said:

they have to broadcast all their journey live

Which under new broadcast laws might be illegal as public broadcasts.

I wouldn't be surprised if the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission brings further charges against the  People GO Network.

39 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Which under new broadcast laws might be illegal as public broadcasts.

I wouldn't be surprised if the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission brings further charges against the  People GO Network.

pity , you may very well be right; if so, we have sunk to new lows here