‘We Walk’ NHRC complaint alleges intimidation

[webfact]

‘We Walk’ NHRC complaint alleges intimidation

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

File photo

 

“WE WALK” activists have asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to review alleged intimidation by law-enforcement officers during their long march to Khon Kaen championing social justic issues.

 

The activists from the People Go Network submitted the complaint about intimidation to the NHRC, stating that despite the Supreme Administrative Court’s recent protection order for the marchers, many participants still faced threatening behaviour that affected their work and families.

 

A representative of the network, Nimit Tian-udom, said marchers had faced scare tactics, including surprise visits to their homes and workplaces and intimidation of their family members, with security officials saying that their participation in the march was illegal despite the recent ruling.

 

The 450-kilometre march from Pathum Thani to Khon Kaen to campaign is focused on issues of state welfare, food security, communal rights and democracy.

 

“Even though the Supreme Administrative Court has issued a protection order for the marchers and ordered the police to facilitate our activities, our demonstration members have still been terrorised by officers, so we would like to ask the NHRC to inspect these behaviours,” Nimit said.

 

“We also want to ask security officers to stop these bad practices and contact protest leaders directly instead, if they found any issue about the campaign.”

 

In addition to the intimidation of marchers’ family members, he said two lawsuits regarding allegations of violating the National Council for Peace and Order’s ban on political gatherings had recently been filed against eight prominent members of the march and 10 supporters in Phayao.

 

“These actions are clearly intended to demoralise activists and cause them to be afraid to campaign on social issues,” Nimit said.

 

NHRC commissioner Angkana Neelapaijit accepted the petition from the People Go Network and promised to investigate the alleged rights violations and summon relevant officers to question them about the issue.

 

Another prominent member of the network, Eakachai Issarata, said the group would go to Royal Thai Police headquarters and the United Nations in Bangkok today to ask for further investigations of the intimidation perpetrated against the marchers.

 

Eakachai said his group was also planning further actions to campaign on their four main social issues and would return to the road for more demonstrations soon.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339257

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-20

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“These actions are clearly intended to demoralise activists and cause them to be afraid to campaign on social issues,” Nimit said.

Only shaming will stop them.  Call it what it is, a police state.  Shaming them and making fun of them as bullies will bring them down to earth. 

[rkidlad]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Nimit Tian-udom, said marchers had faced scare tactics, including surprise visits to their homes and workplaces and intimidation of their family members, with security officials saying that their participation in the march was illegal despite the recent ruling.

Ah, is this where our resident self-loathing farang members tell us you can't criticize this kind of behaviour because "this is Thailand". They tell us there are no universal rights or wrongs. It's all relative to their set of moral values. 

 

Seems to me it's all relative to the whims of whoever is in charge that day. 

[Enoon]

2 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Ah, is this where our resident self-loathing farang members tell us you can't criticize this kind of behaviour because "this is Thailand". They tell us there are no universal rights or wrongs. It's all relative to their set of moral values. 

 

Seems to me it's all relative to the whims of whoever is in charge that day. 

 

This is Thailand.

 

This is ASIA:

 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Wikipedia

Bangkok Declaration

"However, at the same time, they emphasized the principles of sovereignty and non-interference, calling for greater emphasis on economic, social, and cultural rights—in particular, the right to economic development over civil and political rights. The Bangkok Declaration is considered to be a landmark expression of the Asian values perspective, which offers an extended critique of human rights universalism"

 

It is what they are.

 

Essential reading:

Asian values - Wikipedia

"This contrasted with perceived European ideals of the universal rights of man"

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2018 by Enoon

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

investigate the alleged rights violations and summon relevant officers to question them about the issue.

An overly enthusiastic statement.

The Thailand NHRC has no subpoena power to compel anyone, especially military members, to be questioned. The NHRC can "ask" for testimony and even then it has no investigative authority to confirm the validity of any testimony.

Furthermore, as per the 2017 Constitution (as opposed to the 2007 Constitution) any report or summary of its findings must consider the nation's "reputation" and national "security." In short it ultimately cannot conflict with any government position on an issue.

[Media1]

A scared government lol.