Govt pressured to look into attacks on pro-democracy activists
Politicians and the civil society called on the government on Wednesday to pursue the attackers of political activists and bring them to justice, especially since those behind the assault on activist Sirawith Seritiwat are still at large almost a week after the attack.
Amnesty International (Thailand) submitted an open letter to Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and the National Police chief calling for an investigation into the attacks on Sirawith, aka “Ja New”, Anurak “Ford the Red Path” Jentawanich and Ekachai Hingkangwan.
The three pro-democracy campaigners have been attacked several times.
In the letter, Amnesty International also pushed for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for activists.
“The scale of the attacks against political activists and human-rights defenders in Thailand is alarming,” said Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International’s regional director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the safety and security of these and other activists and urges the authorities to take all necessary steps to protect them from harm,” he added.
The letter was accepted on Prawit and the National Police chief’s behalf by deputy chief of Special Branch Police, Pol Maj-General Tanai Apichatseni.
Amnesty International’s move was prompted by the attack on Sirawith last Friday, which left him in intensive care for a broken nose, an injured eye socket and other severe injuries to the body.
The four men who assaulted the activist are still at large, and while the public has voiced concerns that the attack was ordered by the powers-that-be considering his activism against an undemocratic regime, the government responded, saying it was a personal matter perpetrated by a loan shark.
Sirawith’s mother Patnari Chankit also submitted a letter on Wednesday to the opposition bloc demanding justice for her son, who was beaten up twice last month. She also insisted that Sirawith had no problems with anyone, and nor does he owe money to a loan shark, adding that it was only his political activism that could have got him in trouble.
“I’m convinced this is linked to politics,” she said. “I want the House of Representatives to push for the protection of every pro-democracy activist and quickly launch legal actions against the perpetrators.”
Opposition MPs led by Pheu Thai’s Chonlanan Srikieo launched a motion in the House on Wednesday, calling on Prawit, who is in charge of security affairs, to respond to questions. However, the deputy PM directed the questions to Deputy Defence Minister General Chaichan Changmongkol instead.
The opposition has also decided to launch a motion to set up a committee to probe the attacks on people with differing political opinions. This motion is expected to be launched in the House next week.