Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is issuing this urgent appeal received from Protection International Thailand, regarding the on-going intimidation by local authorities and security forces against Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group in the Lamphang Province for opposing the granting of concessionaire rights to rock quarry mining for a period of over five years.
For more information, please contact:
1. Miss Waewrin Buangern,
085-712-2624
2. Miss Chuthima Chuenghuajaz
088-961-6709
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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THAILAND: Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group in Lamphang Province face severe intimidation by local authorities and security forces
The Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group, in Lamphang Province, is under severe intimidation by local provincial authorities at the time of issuing this appeal. The pictures depict snapshots of provincial military officials telling members of the Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group members not to travel to meet and petition the Lamphang Governor. We have also received information that military and police officials are currently surrounding the village.
Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group has planned to petition the Lamphang Governor today to request him to register and renovate a local waterway and local road which are essential to the livelihoods of the people in Ban Haeng village. Over the weekend, the Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group issued an invitation to a press conference and to cover the groups’ demonstration (attached in both Thai and English). Yesterday evening and at night-time, 16th August 2015, the military officials came to the village to negotiate with the Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group to have the group cancel their petition letter and ask for documents from the group. Both the Provincial Chief of Police and the Chief of Ngao District Authorities said they will not force the community-based HRDs to stop their action so far, but there have been threats that villagers may be charged with violating Article 112 as royal dignitaries will be visiting Lamphang in the near future.
Following yesterday’s intimidation, the Army – followed by local police – came to Ban Haeng village at 6:30AM and have been telling villagers not to go petition the Governor.
We call on you to immediately;
– Call the Lamphang Governor and all relevant authorities to allow Rak Ban
Haeng Conservation Group to travel and petition Lamphang Governor in
Lamphang City;
– Contact the Coordinator of the Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group, who is
Woman HRD Miss Waewrin Buangern, mobile phone 085-712-2624 and Miss
Chuthima Chuenghuajai, mobile phone 088-961-6709 (Thai-speaking);
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological security of community-based HRDs and call on the authorities to uphold rights of HRDs to seek information and petition their concerns to and from duty-bearers and
ensure that Thai authorities will not use the unjust laws against community
based HRDs.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:
1. Local Provincial Authorities – Lamphang Province
ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดลำปาง – Lamphang Governor
นายธานินทร์ สุภาแสน
Tel: 054265001
2. ตำรวจภูธรจังหวัดลำปาง – Lamphang Provincial Police
พลตำรวจตรีนิยม ด้วงสี
Tel: 054221600
muanglampangpolice@gmail.com
3. ค่ายสุรศักดิ์มนตรี – Surasakmontri Military Camp
พลตรีวิจักขฐ์ สิริบรรสพ
ผู้บัญชาการมณฑลทหารบกที่ 32
Tel: 054-225946A
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
