Human rights marchers to file legal complaint against police obstruction
Despite ongoing intimidation from the authorities, participants made it to Mittraphab Intersection at Saraburi on Monday morning, the third day of the “People GO Network’s” long march to Khon Kaen to demand government recognition human rights.
After enduring obstruction at the beginning of the momentous “We Walk” campaign on Saturday, and facing continuing roadblocks and other acts by the police and military officers, the human-rights defenders continued Monday on their 450-kilometre journey from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. Participants are calling for the protection of state welfare, universal healthcare, food security, freedom of expression, human rights, and a just society for all.
As of Monday morning, the group had reached the Saraburi entrance to Mittraphab Road, the main highway to the northeastern region.
The group will stop at around 2.30pm to join up with allies from the farmers’ network and hold a public discussion about food security and the government’s policy that they said undermines the sustainability of the local agricultural system.
A post of their official Facebook fanpage said that police officers continued to closely monitor and track the group. Their legal team will file a complaint at the Administrative Court in Bangkok in the afternoon to ask that authorities cease all actions limiting the people’s freedom of expression of march participants and obstructing their long march, as those rights are protected by the Constitution.
Earlier, police officers blockaded the route of the marchers, arrested some of the protesters without charge, and allegedly threatened the demonstrators with abusive actions.