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dam-l LS: Police demand arrest of three leaders at Pak Mun
Press release: Police demand arrest of three leaders at the Pak Mun
demonstration site
Yesterday, November 15, 1999, at 10 a.m., police from the Khong Chiam
Police Station informed the villagers demonstrating at the Pak Mun dam site
that they demanded three leaders of the demonstration to report to the
police for investigation for possible arrest. The leaders laid claims
against are Mr. Thoncharoen Srihatham, a Pak Mun village leader, Ms.Wanida
Tantiwittayapitak, an NGO activist in the Pak Mun campaign, and Phra Pichet
Petnamrob, a monk and activist. The police claimed the demonstration
leaders are unlawfully occupying and destroying EGAT (Electricity
Generation Authority of Thailand) property, and that EGAT has received
approval by the government for the police to make these claims. The Police
informed the three leaders that unless they report to the police, they will
be arrested. The three leaders rejected the police claims, saying that they
are in fact not destroying EGAT property and that they have no other choice
than to use EGAT land at the dam site for their demonstrations. They also
pointed out that their demonstrations are against the state policies that
are detrimental to the poor. They further said that, if the police want to
arrest them, they would need to bring them to the Police station in order
to issue an arrest. They also said that, if indeed the police arrest them,
the village leaders intend to defend their rights through a judicial court
process, rather than relying the bail-out system to be released.
Villagers and NGOs expect that the threat against these three villagers is
the first step in more claims to arrests by the police in the near future.
It is thought that the aim of these police actions is to destroy the
demonstration taking place at the Pak Mun dam site at a crucial time of the
demonstrations. Currently, preparations are taking place for the 10th
Anniversary of People’s struggle against the Pak Mun dam and the Mun Walk,
which is planned to be held between November 27 to December 12. During this
ceremony, it is expected that a large number of NGOs, academics, students,
and media will attend, bringing heightened attention to the Pak Mun dam
situation.
Assembly of the Poor, Pak Mun Dam.
November 16, 1999
************************************************
Chainarong Sretthachau
Southeast Asia Rivers Network(SEARIN)
25/5 Moo 2 Soi Sukhapibarn 27
Changkhien-Jed Yod Road
Chang Phuek
Muang
Chiang Mai 50300
Thailand
Tel/Fax: (66) 53-221157
Email: searin@chmai.loxinfo.co.th