Joint Statement – 13/06/2016
Statement on the Reprisals against Human Rights
Defenders, Ms. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Ms. Anchana Heemmina, and Mr. Somchai
Homlaor
We, the undersigned civil society groups, are gravely concerned about the legal action taken by the Royal Thai Army for criminal defamation and Computer Crimes Act violations against Woman Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) Ms. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Ms. Anchana Heemmina, and HRD Mr. Somchai Homlaor. Ms. Pornpen, is the Director of the Cross Cultural Foundation – an organization which monitors and documents cases of torture and ill-treatment in Thailand. Mr. Somchai, is the President of the Cross Cultural Foundation, and Ms. Anchana is director of Duay JaiGroup (Hearty Support Group) – a local organization based in Thailand’s ‘Deep South’, which supports people who suffer from the justice system in national security cases.
All three are co-editors of a report, Torture and ill treatment in The Deep South Documented in 2014-2015[1] documenting 54 cases of inhumane treatment in detention, launched on 10th February 2016. The research and report was partly funded by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, established under the General Assembly resolution 36/151 in 1981, thus under the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Resolution 12/2 these HRDs and their colleagues are “individuals who cooperate with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of Human Rights.”
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| Pornpen Khongkachonkiet |
On 8th June 2016, Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC 4) gave information to Ms. Pornpen through a phone conversation that ISOC 4 sought the power of attorney from the Royal Thai Army and submitted a complaint to Yala Mueang Police Station on 17th May 2016 for criminal defamation and computer-related violations by the three HRDs. The charges are for alleged criminal defamation under Article 328 of the Thai Criminal Code, and violation of the Computer Crimes Act (2007), Article 14(1)[2]. We are disturbed regarding information that authorities have already interrogated six witnesses. The Police case file is No. 704/2559.
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| Anchana Heemmina |
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| Somchai Homlaor |
Instead of suppressing the work of Human Rights Defenders, such as Ms. Pornpen, Ms. Anchana, and Mr. Somchai, the Royal Thai Army should, as New Zealand recommended at the UPR, “Promptly investigate and prosecute all allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings,” and as Canada recommended, “Create an independent body to investigate all torture allegations, including in Thailand’s Deep South, and bring perpetrators to justice.”
This judicial harassment constitutes a direct
infringement of Ms. Pornpen, Ms. Anchana, and Mr. Somchai’s right to work as a
Human Rights Defender in Thailand. As stated in Article 1 of the UN Declaration
on Human Rights Defenders “Everyone has the right to (individually and in
association with others) promote and to strive for the realization of Human
Rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international level.” We
believe that the filing of this criminal legal case against Ms. Pornpen, Ms.
Anchana, and Mr. Somchai was undertaken with the purpose of retaliation and
that it is in response to the three HRDs peaceful and legitimate activities to
hold authorities to account for cases of human rights violations, including
torture, in Thailand’s ‘Deep South.’
We call on the Royal Thai Army to:
- Immediately and unconditionally withdraw the legal action against
Ms. Pornpen, Ms. Anchana, and Mr. Somchai. Such legal action against the
legitimate work of HRDs is against the public interest.
-
Ensure that no further retaliation is carried out or allowed to
happen in the future against HRDs, ill-treatment and torture victims, their colleagues
and families.
We call on the Thai military government to:
- Respect the universally recognized rights, duties and obligations
of everyone and organizations to highlight information about Human Rights
violations and injustices to the public, as stated in the UN Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders;
- Ensure that all persons affected by torture and other human rights
violations receive justice, including first and foremost the right to complain
which must be respected at all times.
- Ensure the implementations of recommendations it accepted during
the recent UPR with regard to HRDs.
Signed by:
Organisations
Thailand
Aanglumphong Conservation Groups and Archaeological Site กลุ่มอนุรักษ์สิ่งแวดล้อมอ่างลำพอกและโบราณสถาน สุรินทร์
Assembly of the Poor สมัชชาคนจน กรณีเขื่อนปากมูล
Centre for Community Rights
to Manage Natural Resources, Chi Basin ศูนย์พิทักษ์สิทธิการจัดการทรัพยากรชุมชนลุ่มน้ำชี
Center to Study and Develop
Law for Human Rights ศูนย์ศึกษาและพัฒนานักกฎหมายเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยนชน
Centre to Study and Ecology
Habitation of Community Culture in Phetchabun ศูนย์ศึกษาและฟื้นฟูนิเวศวัฒนธรรมชุมชนเทือกเขาเพชรบูรณ์
Chi Basin Network, Yasothon เครือข่ายน้ำชี จังหวัดยโสธร
Community Resource Centre
(CRC) มูลนิธิศูนย์ข้อมูลชุมชน
Campaign Committee for Human Rights (CCHR)คณะกรรมการรณรงค์เพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน (ครส.)
Empower Foundation เอ็มพาวเวอร์
E-saan Human Rights and
Peace Information Centre ศูนย์ข้อมูลสิทธิมุษยชนและสันติภาพ
E-saan Land Reform Network เครือข่ายปฎิรูปที่ดินภาคอีสาน
E-saan Network on Natural
Resources and Environmental เครือข่ายทรัพยากรและสิ่งแวดล้อมภาคอีสาน
Foundation for Muslim
Attorneys Center มูลนิธิเพื่อศูนย์ทนายความมุสลิม
Foundation for Women มูลนิธิผู้หญิง
Gender equality promoting foundation มูลนิธิส่งเสริมความเสมอภาคทางสังคม
Human Rights Lawyers’ Association (HRLA) สมาคมนักกฎหมายสิทธิมนษยชน
Land Watch Working Group กลุ่มจับตาปัญหาที่ดิน
Mplus Foundation
Namoon Environmental
Conservation Group กลุ่มอนุรักษ์สิ่งแวดล้อมบ้านนามูล-ดูนสาด
Network of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand (NIPT) เครือข่ายชนเผ่าพื้นเมืองแห่งประเทศไทย (คชท.)
Network of Thaiban People
Deprived of Rights เครือข่ายไทบ้านผู้ไร้สิทธิ์ สกลนคร
People’s Empowerment
Foundation
Prorights Foundation มูลนิธิส่งเสริมและคุ้มครองสิทธิมนุษยชน
Southern Peasant Federation
of Thailand (SPFT) สหพันธ์เกษตรกรภาคใต้ – สกต
Saiburi River Association สมาคมลุ่มน้ำสายบุรี
Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR)
Thai Development Support
Center (TDSC) ศูนย์เผยแพร่และส่งเสริมงานพัฒนา(ผสพ)
Thai Working Group for ASEAN
Human Rights Mechanism คณะทำงานไทยเพื่อกลไกสิทธิมนุษยชนอาเซียน
Togetherness for Equality
and Action (TEA) โรงน้ำชา
Udonthani Environmental
Conservation Group กลุ่มอนุรักษ์สิ่งแวดล้อมอุดร
Union for Civil liberty (UCL) สมาคมสิทธิเสรีภาพของประชาชน
WARTANI Media Agency สำนักสื่อ Wartani
WE PEACE สมาคมผู้หญิงเพื่อสันติภาพ
Women Struggle for Livelihood กลุ่มหญิงสู้ชีวิต.
WeMove ขบวนผู้หญิงปฎิรูปประเทศไทย
Women Network for
Advancement and Peace เครือข่ายผู้หญิงเพื่อความก้าวหน้าและสันติภาพ
Work and Environment Related
Patient's Network of Thailand (WEPT สภาเครือข่ายกลุ่มผู้ป่วยจากการทำงานและสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งประเทศไทย)
Beyond Thailand
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP, Myanmar)
Centre for Independent
Journalism (Malaysia)
Center for Sustainable
Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM, Vietnam)
Center for Women's Global
Leadership (USA)
LBH Masyarakat (Community
Legal Aid Institute, Indonesia)
Malaysians Against Death
Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
Malaysian Humanist and
Rationalist Movement (MyHARAM)
National Free Trade Union
(Sri Lanka)
North South Initiative
(Malaysia)
PINAY (Filipino Women’s
Organization in Quebec)
PUSAT KOMAS (Malaysia)
Safety and Rights Society
(Bangladesh)
The Vietnam Committee on
Human Rights (France)
Think Centre (Singapore)
Vietnam Indigenous Knowledge
Network (VTIK)
Vietnamese Women for Human
Rights (VNWHR)
Workers Hub For Change (WH4C, Malaysia)
Regional/International
Amnesty International
ASEAN Youth Forum
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
(AIPP)
Asia Pacific Forum on Women,
Law and Development (APWLD)
AWID
Civil Rights Defenders
FIDH, within the framework
of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Focus on the Global South
FRIDA | The Young Feminist
Fund
International Labor Rights
Forum (ILRF)
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
Nazra for Feminist Studies
Network of Patani's Citizens
Outside the Motherland
Protection International
Southeast Asian Press
Alliance (SEAPA)
The Asian Forum for Human
Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
UPR Info AsiaUrgent Action
Fund for Women's Human Rights
Urgent Action Fund Latin
America
Women Living Under Muslim
Laws
World Organisation Against
Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of
Human Rights Defenders
Individuals
Ms. Kanungnit Makchuchit คนึงนิจ มากชูชิต
Ms.
Naiyana Waikham นัยนา หวายคำ
Ms. Chantawipa Apisuk จันทวิภา อิสุข
Mr. Jumpol Apisuk จุมพล อภิสุข
Mr. Bordin Saisaeng
Researcher, Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University บดินทร์ สายแสง สถาบันสิทธิมนุษยชนและสันติศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล
Chompunut Chalieobun ชมพูนุท เฉลียวบุญ
Dr. Eakpant Pidavanija
Lecturer, Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University เอกพันธุ์ ปิณฑวณิช สถาบันสิทธิมนุษยชนและสันติศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล
Mr. Ismail Hajiwaechi นายอิสมาอีล ฮายีแวจิ
Assistant Professor Dr
Naruemon Thabchumpon,
Political Science Faculty, Chalulongkron University ผศ.ดร. นฤมล ทับจุมพล คณะรัฐศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
Lecturer Ngamsuk
Rattanasatian Lecturer, Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol
University งามศุกร์ รัตนเสถียร สถาบันสิทธิมนุษยชนและสันติศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล
Mrs. Ruengrawee Pichaikul นางเรืองรวี พิชัยกุล
Sor Rattanamanee
Polkla, Lawyer
Thaweesak Pi, Social
Activist นายทวีศักดิ์ ปิ นักกิจกรรมทางสังคม
Victor Bernard
William Nicholas Gomes,
Human Rights Defender and Freelance Journalist, UK
Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Senior
Advisor on ASEAN and Human Rights, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG, Indonesia)
ANNEX 1 - Human Rights Defender Profiles
Ms. Pornpen is a leading Human Rights Defender in Thailand who has been involved in various Human Rights issues both in Thailand and the region, including women’s rights, indigenous rights and preventing forced disappearances. Her work serves the public interest by ensuring that authorities are held accountable and pressuring authorities to unconditionally respect the Human Rights of all. As Director and President of the Cross Cultural Foundation, Ms. Pornpen and Mr. Somchai have constantly been monitoring and documenting cases of torture and Human Rights violations in Thailand’s southernmost provinces and other parts of the country
Mr. Somchai is a seasoned and respected Human Rights lawyer in Thailand, who has been fighting to defend people’s Human Rights for the past 25 years. He was a Commissioner for the Law Reform Commission of Thailand until it was disbanded by the current military regime. Furthermore, as president of the Cross Cultural Foundation he has been a key figure forging bridges across Thai society. Cross Cultural Foundation organises educational activities, as well as research and legal support to promote people’s Human Rights, especially in Thailand’s southernmost provinces which are in a state of prolonged armed conflict. In September 2014, both Ms. Pornpen and Mr. Somchai, as well as their organization, faced a criminal defamation and computer-related crimes charge filed by Army Task Force 41. The case was eventually dropped by decision of the state prosecutor in June 2015 following an international campaign denouncing the Thai Army’s harassment and intimidation of these HRDs for their legitimate and crucial Human Rights work.
Ms. Anchana is Director of Duay Jai Group which has been working with victims of ill-treatment in national security cases since January 2010, in Thailand’s southernmost, conflict-affected regions. Following the release of the report on torture cases, on 14th February, Col. Suratep, Head of the Civil Society Organisations unit under the Internal Security Operations Command ('ISOC'), contacted Ms. Anchana and other activists who were involved in compiling the report and summoned them for a discussion. Ms. Anchana presented herself at Sirinthon Army Camp in Yala Province for the discussion with seven security officers. The meeting lasted two and a half hours, during which the officers questioned Ms. Anchana about the cases in the torture report. The officers expressed their discontent with the report and requested the human rights defender to henceforth submit all of her publications to the ISOC prior to their release. Ms. Anchana refused to do so. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)[4] reported that at about 5 pm on Friday, 19th February 2016, a group of ten men in green uniforms visited the home of Ms. Anchana, in Songkhla Province, but only Ms. Anchana’s mother was home. Without presenting any warrant, they claimed to be border police officers and asked about Ms. Anchana’s work and her personal information. The activist’s mother reported that the men took pictures of her and the house. She added that before they left they told her to inform Ms. Anchana not to use Line, a chat application, or Facebook.
[2] Computer Crimes Act, Article
14.1
“Whoever commits the following offences, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years and fin not exceeding on hundred thousand baht or both:
(1) input, into computer system, forged computer data in whole or in part or false computer data in a manner likely to cause injury to another person or the public;”
“Whoever commits the following offences, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years and fin not exceeding on hundred thousand baht or both:
(1) input, into computer system, forged computer data in whole or in part or false computer data in a manner likely to cause injury to another person or the public;”
[3] See Annex 1 – Human Rights
Defender Profiles for more details.
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