Schoolgirl summoned for police interrogation

PRATCH RUJIVANAROM

THE NATION

Lawyer to seek postponement of interview, mine urged to drop lawsuit.

BANGKOK:-- POLICE ISSUED summons for a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Loei's Wang Saphung district after a gold-mining firm decided to file a libel suit against her in response to her televised "citizen reporting" piece.

A gold mining company reportedly decided to take legal action against the girl after her report was aired that mining operations allegedly contaminated Huai River and affected the health of villagers.

On Tuesday, the girl's family received the summons asking the youngster to report to Min Buri Police Station on December 30 for interrogation. The summons was issued on December 14.

Sor Rattamanee Phonkla, Community Resources Centre coordinator and a lawyer, explained that the summons did not signify prosecution and that the lawyer had already spoken to the police officer in charge of the case.

She also said the decision on whether the lawsuit would go ahead lay in the hands of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre.

"We have told police that we have spoken to the Loei Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre and requested that it not approve the firm's lawsuit against the girl. The police have said that they |will speak to the complainant," she said.

Sor also said that the defendant could not travel to Bangkok on the date specified and that her team of lawyers would issue an official letter asking for the appointment to be postponed.

She said the girl and her family were confident but they were concerned they were directly affected by the mining operation.

"The girl herself has suffered from the pollution. When she was younger, she could swim and play in the river, but since the gold mine began operating, she was no longer able to jump in the river.

"Also, her grandmother is sick because of high levels of heavy metal in her body," she said.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released a statement on Wednesday urging the company to drop the lawsuit as it would not benefit anybody but would instead hamper young people's freedom of expression.

The NHRC said this right was protected by constitutions and by the Child Protection Act and Convention on the Rights of the Child, which require member states to ensure children's freedom of expression.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Schoolgirl-summoned-for-police-interrogation-30275637.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-25

what a disgrace

Wouldn't ' interview ' be a more suitable headline as ' interrogation ' has connotations of heavy handedness ?

Will reps of the mining company be interviewed or interrogated ?

This so called interrogation will end up in an extreme torture, 'cause the police there has been bought in advance by that same gang of influential mining group chiefs....

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by MaxLee

The girl has no chance. Too many powers. Good time to seek asylum!

Some of these companies need to employ a PR person,

threatening people who speak out,and in this case a

child,is beyond the pale.

regards worgeordie

Mining firm scum.

Gold speaks louder...

In decent countries (with ethical and responsible leaders), children are taught that the police are their friends!

Mining firm scum.

yes but WHY are mining companies, or ANYONE, allowed under Thai law to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl who makes a school project video about a river near her home?

Is she not to be CONGRATULATED for being brave? for giving a GLIMMER of hope that some Thais CARE??? she, and others, are the hope of Thailand

THIS type of nastiness is the evil in Thailand that seeks to ensnare it's populace in the embrace of deference by the big and the powerful bully boy elite

Happy Christmas Thailand please wake up it is time

these people are seriously warped.

The proof of their polluting is out there for all to see.

Yet they insist on attacking children.

truly perverted morons.

hope she stays safe

If they are willing and able to attack a Thai schoolchild, what would they not be capable of towards a farang or even a Thai adult reporting on the subject ?

Powerful people don't want their disgraceful practices discussed openly..... Unfortunately that includes police and govt at the moment

Where oho where is child protection services??

Should they not step in before a 15year old kid is ripped to shreds by lawyers and cops??

This company will have to rebrand after this or they will lose whatever clients they had , it's hard to see for the common man what they could possibly win by taking a kid to court for jabbering about their illegal activities....

She hasn't got money I presume so this is only to silence her story, and if they wanted that they sure did it wrong...

Her age alone will be noted internationally, regardless of whether she is right or wrong....

In decent countries (with ethical and responsible leaders), children are taught that the police are their friends!

And in civilised countries the legal system is not used as a tool of revenge and the police have no involvement in what is just a civil claim.

Thailand however, ciminalises civil action so that the powerful can remove the powerless and do so without incurring the expense of burden of proof and costs liability if unsuccessful.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by Reigntax

Sometimes I find it very difficult to justify living in this country.

How about the name of the company? They don't have problem with giving the name of the child, SO how about the name of the company???

Then people can make informed choices as to which companies they chose to do business with and those they do not.

Also If there is proof of any pollution and it is attributed to the company, then stating facts should not be a crime.

There is a very big difference between mud slinging to hurt a person/company/business rival, and telling the truth about them.

The STUPID thing is that a person with some kind of intelligence would realize that this is not a good look for the company nor for the country that allows this.

In decent countries (with ethical and responsible leaders), children are taught that the police are their friends!

Unfortunately, those days are long gone in most countries. The loss of faith in the police began when many cities, counties, etc., started to use the police as a means to generate revenue. The police are no longer your friend and are definately not there to help you, especially in Thailand.

I will now go watch 1,000,000 youtube videos and record all the farangs saying something "bad"...

I want them sent to the Gulag!!!!

I'm in Hawaii, not yet Xmas.....

If it was, I would have a heart...

but not now!!!!

if we all pull together, we can ban about 100,000 backpackers!!!!

Mining firm scum.

yes but WHY are mining companies, or ANYONE, allowed under Thai law to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl who makes a school project video about a river near her home?

Is she not to be CONGRATULATED for being brave? for giving a GLIMMER of hope that some Thais CARE??? she, and others, are the hope of Thailand

THIS type of nastiness is the evil in Thailand that seeks to ensnare it's populace in the embrace of deference by the big and the powerful bully boy elite

Happy Christmas Thailand please wake up it is time

"a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl"

So it is OK to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a older ugly schoolboy who did the same ?

Mining firm scum.

yes but WHY are mining companies, or ANYONE, allowed under Thai law to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl who makes a school project video about a river near her home?

Is she not to be CONGRATULATED for being brave? for giving a GLIMMER of hope that some Thais CARE??? she, and others, are the hope of Thailand

THIS type of nastiness is the evil in Thailand that seeks to ensnare it's populace in the embrace of deference by the big and the powerful bully boy elite

Happy Christmas Thailand please wake up it is time

"a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl"

So it is OK to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a older ugly schoolboy who did the same ?

well... someone had to devalue it didn't they? good old TVF

I have NO IDEA what she looks like but she's BEAUTIFUL to me ok?

A chance for the ptb to step in and acytually have at least one achievement for their reign to date.

Scandalous!

This country is going down so many wrong roads. Freedoms are being taken away almost on a daily basis.

I'm glad, after 6 years, I'm heading back home very soon.

Mining firm scum.

yes but WHY are mining companies, or ANYONE, allowed under Thai law to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl who makes a school project video about a river near her home?

Is she not to be CONGRATULATED for being brave? for giving a GLIMMER of hope that some Thais CARE??? she, and others, are the hope of Thailand

THIS type of nastiness is the evil in Thailand that seeks to ensnare it's populace in the embrace of deference by the big and the powerful bully boy elite

Happy Christmas Thailand please wake up it is time

"a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl"

So it is OK to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a older ugly schoolboy who did the same ?

Be sure brain is in gear before putting mouth in motion,this is one dumb comment.

yes but WHY are mining companies, or ANYONE, allowed under Thai law to BULLY, HARASS and INTIMIDATE a young, beautiful teenage schoolgirl who makes a school project video about a river near her home?

Welcome to Asia.

......talk about warped....

...maybe they have all been affected by the toxic heavy metals.....

...otherwise this is a clear travesty.....someone told the _________ to 'jump'.......and they are jumping.....

....another human rights disgrace....

...nobody is safe.....

...please remind us who is behind this mining operation.....please give us names and faces.....

.....

Not just "a mining company": they are Thung Kham Ltd.

What chance is there she might just become the Malala Yousafzai of Thailand.??

"Young, powerful and influential" is Malala, who has won the hearts of those in many countries.

Not off to a good start and chances are looking slim but wish her well.

Different cause, same heartfelt intent.

Any bets yet taken as to how many gold bullion bars have exchanged hands?

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by Jing Joe

In decent countries (with ethical and responsible leaders), children are taught that the police are their friends!

In the U.S., the police are just another well organized gang.

I would like to know where it is that the police are your friend. I have never been in that country. I might want to go there.

The same tactics go on in the "developed" West.... Doesn't make them ok but, it's worth noting!

Sometimes I find it very difficult to justify living in this country.

I'm leaving... unfortunately the bad outweighs the good by a lot...