Human Rights Groups Allege Supression of Freedoms in Thailand

VoA - News Tuesday 2nd September, 2014

Organizers explaining reasons to cancel event shortly before police officers arrived with the formal request. x Organizers explaining reasons to cancel event shortly before police officers arrived with the formal request.

As organizers were explaining to reporters why they felt it prudent to cancel a human rights panel discussion and delay the release of a report on freedoms, police officers entered the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

A policeman handed copies of what was termed a request for cooperation from the 1st Calvalry Division of the King's Guard, acting on behalf of the National Council for Peace and Order.

A policeman told the three panelists from Amnesty International, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and the Cross Cultural Foundation he has a personal copy of the letter - which had earlier been faxed to the Foreign Correspondents' Club - for each of them. The letter asked them not to hold the human rights event.

Martial law was declared in Thailand two days before the May 22 coup and remains in effect. There are restrictions on any meetings considered of a political nature or activities deemed critical of the junta. Freedom of the press has been restricted.

Pawinee Chumsri, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, (center) displays for photographers her copy of the letter received from police. x Pawinee Chumsri, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, (center) displays for photographers her copy of the letter received from police.

Pawinee Chumsri, with the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, says in light of the situation it was deemed prudent to comply with the authorities' request to stop the event.

Pawinee says the groups consider the call to cancel the event a violation of their freedom of expression and the right of citizens to receive information about the human rights situation in the country.

She promised the report on human rights in Thailand would be released by other means in the near future.

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Human Rights Groups Allege Supression of Freedoms in Thailand