‘We Walk’ activists defy police

EIGHT PROMINENT members of the “We Walk” march for human rights protection will not report to the police tomorrow despite being summoned for alleged violation of a National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) order.
Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for Wants Foundation (EnLaw) manager Supaporn Malailoi said yesterday that the lawyers representing the eight |participants of the “We Walk” long march will go to Khlong Luang Police Station tomorrow and seek a postponement |until next Wednesday for unspecified reasons.
On January 20, Lt-Colonel Pusit Klaihirun, the NCPO representative, filed a complaint against eight “We Walk” marchers for allegedly breaching NCPO Order 3/2558 by gathering more than five persons for a political protest.
Thammasat University’s Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology dean Anusorn Unno and many prominent human rights activists were among those who faced charges of violating the junta’s order. They were summoned to report to the police and listen to the charge at Khlong Luang Police Station at 9am tomorrow.
Supaporn said that the eight activists would continue their march to Khon Kaen province as scheduled and they would |disclose today their reasons to postpone the meeting with police during a forum about the right to healthcare and Universal health coverage in Nakhon Ratchasima.
She emphasised that no matter what, the protesters will continue their march to the end, as all citizens have the right to take part in peaceful protests and have freedom of expression, which was guaranteed by the Constitution. Supaporn also said that participants faced intimidation from officers in uniform and in plainclothes every day of the march. 
The intimidation by the authorities was not limited to “We Walk” marchers. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that the signatories to the statement condemning the litigation against eight activists of the long march also faced close monitoring by both police and military officers, which made them feel threatened and uncomfortable.
The TLHR said that when soldiers came to meet with Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Si Saket province they questioned them about their links to the “We Walk” long march, as the organisation was one of the signatories to the statement. 
In a related update on the march, Surachai Throngngam, secretary-general of EnLaw Foundation, said that the People Go Network had filed a complaint in the Administrative Court seeking an order to facilitate the march and stop any suppression of freedom of expression. The court has finished questioning of both sides and will soon deliver its order.
Surachai also said that three additional defendants were added to the case, including the commanders of Provincial Police regions 5, 6 and 7, because the protesters have to pass through the areas under their responsibility to reach their destination in Khon Kaen.
The number of defendants in the case now numbers seven.