18 October, 2020
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), together with the undersigned organisations, express our solidarity with the peaceful Thai protesters for participatory democracy in the country. We are extremely concerned about the government authorities’ excessive and disproportionate use of force and violence against the protesters, especially against women human rights defenders and student activists as they exercise their constitutional right to freedom of assembly.
The protests started across Thailand in February when a constitutional court banned the opposition political party. Soon after, the emergency decree on the COVID-19 pandemic saw the curbing of mass mobilisations. University and school students resumed protesting across the country since 18th July, considered to be the largest protests after the coup in 2014, demanding democratic reform of the country. These peaceful protests were met with further suppression of peoples’ democratic voices and dissents, leading to judicial harassment and arrests of women human rights defenders and student protesters. As of October 2020, at least 167 protesters were arrested and have been charged with sedition or violation of the continually extended COVID-19 emergency decree. At least five protesters were arrested without charges while high school and university students were also questioned by police for participating in protests. Watchdog organisation iLaw reported at least 78 incidents of intimidation against protest sympathisers.
On 15 October Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, following which riot police used immense and uncalled for force, including chemical laced water from water cannons against unarmed and peaceful protesters. The protests that gathered tens of thousands of people have been led by young women leaders and women human rights defenders. Issues brought to the fore have expanded to include gender equality and women’s human rights highlighting patriarchal oppression manifested in abortion laws, taxes on menstrual products and even sexist gender norms in schools. The protesters plan to continue peaceful assembly despite arrests and crackdown.
The state of emergency declaration was not necessary as the protest, which was peaceful, does not meet the conditions stipulated in Section 11 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548; while the use of force and the state of emergency declaration itself were intended to crackdown on democracy protesters. UN agencies and human rights experts including the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association expressed concern and are closely monitoring the situation.
We strongly urge the government of Thailand to:
- Immediately repeal the state of emergency and restore participatory democracy in the country.
- Stop the attacks against and criminalisation of peaceful protesters and immediately refrain from any use of force and violence against them.
- Release all who have been arrested during the peaceful protests including young high school students, university students and Women Human Rights Defenders.
- Ensure a democratic space and process especially for young leaders for a more equal, gender-just and democratic future for all Thai people.
- Fulfil human rights obligations as a responsible UN member state that ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and achieve the rights of all persons, including young people and children, to participation, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including in peaceful protest.
Sign-ons
Organisational Sign-ons | |||
1 | Anakbayan Makati | International | Philippines |
2 | Girl Be Heard | International | USA |
3 | CNS (Citizen News Service) | International | India |
4 | GenDev Centre for Research and Innovation LLP | International | India |
5 | International Movement for Advancement of Education Culture Social & Economic Development (IMAECSED) | International | India |
6 | International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW AP) | International | Malaysia |
7 | JASS (Just Associates) | International | Global |
8 | MIGRANTE International | International | Philippines |
9 | Water Justice and Gender | International | Global |
10 | Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) International | International | Netherlands |
11 | Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA | International | Australia |
12 | Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) | International | Netherlands |
13 | Women’s Major Group | International | Global |
14 | Urban Poor Resource Center of the Philippines | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
15 | Asia Development Alliance | Regional | Cambodia |
16 | Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development | Regional | Thailand |
17 | Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders | Regional | Asia Pacific |
18 | Asia Pacific Research Network | Regional | Philippines |
19 | Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia | Regional | Philippines |
20 | Bhawani Shanker Kusum | Regional | India |
21 | Friends of Latin America | Regional | United States |
22 | Kurawal Foundation | Regional | Indonesia |
23 | PO”Otifa” | Regional | Tajikistan |
24 | RIGHTS Foundation | Regional | Indonesia |
25 | Sanklapa Darchula Nepal(Sankalpa) | Regional | Nepal |
26 | Tamilnadu Pondicherry Fisherpeople Federation | Regional | India |
27 | WoMin African Alliance | Regional | South Africa |
28 | A Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing | Grassroot/National | US |
29 | Aaprabasi Mahila Kamdar Samuha Nepal | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
30 | All Women’s Action Society | Grassroot/National | Malaysia |
31 | AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women – Philippines | Grassroot/National | PHILIPPINES |
32 | Asha Parivar | Grassroot/National | India |
33 | Association For Promotion Sustainable Development | Grassroot/National | India |
34 | Astitva Samajik Sansthan | Grassroot/National | India |
35 | AwazCDS-Pakistan | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
36 | Bai Indigenous Womens Network in the Phikippines | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
37 | BAi national network of indigenous women’s organisations in the Philippines | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
38 | CECOEDECON, India | Grassroot/National | India |
39 | CEDAW Working Group Indonesia | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
40 | Center for Sustainable community development | Grassroot/National | Vietnam |
41 | Center Women and Modern World | Grassroot/National | Azerbaijan |
42 | Centre for Human Rights & Development (CHRD) | Grassroot/National | Mongolia |
43 | COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
44 | Dem Ololt Mongolia | Grassroot/National | Mongolia |
45 | Development Organization for Social Transformation (DOST) | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
46 | EMPOWER Malaysia | Grassroot/National | Malaysia |
47 | Fiji Women’s Rights Movement | Grassroot/National | Fiji |
48 | Funadcion para Estudio e Investigacion de la Mujer | Grassroot/National | Argentina |
49 | Gandhian Unit for Integrated Development Education (GUIDE) | Grassroot/National | India |
50 | Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women | Grassroot/National | Thailand |
51 | Global Exchange | Grassroot/National | United States |
52 | Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
53 | Ikatan Perempuan Positif Indonesia (IPPI) | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
54 | Inspirator Muda Nusantara | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
55 | Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
56 | Karapatan Alliance Philippines | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
57 | Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (Movement of Women Workers) | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
58 | Korea Center for Sustainable Development(KCSD) | Grassroot/National | Republic of Korea |
59 | Korea SDGs Network | Grassroot/National | Republic of Korea |
60 | Korea Women’s Associations United (KWAU) | Grassroot/National | Republic of Korea |
61 | NACASUD Nepal | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
62 | National Fisheries Solidarity Movement | Grassroot/National | Sri Lanka |
63 | National Indigenous Women Forum | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
64 | Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
65 | PA women’s organization Alga | Grassroot/National | Kyrgyzstan |
66 | Pak Women | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
67 | Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
68 | PROGRESS Kalimantan | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
69 | Ranao Women and Children Resource Center, Inc. | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
70 | Roots for Equity | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
71 | Roshni Tariqiyati Tanzeem | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
72 | Sangsan Anakot Yawachon | Grassroot/National | Thailand |
73 | Savisthri National Women’s Movement | Grassroot/National | Sri Lanka |
74 | Shobujer Ovijan Foundation-SOF | Grassroot/National | Bangladesh |
75 | Socialist Party (India) | Grassroot/National | India |
76 | Solidarity for Indugenous Papuans | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
77 | Sukaar Welfare Organization | Grassroot/National | Pakistan |
78 | Support Group on Violence Against Women and their Children, Network | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
79 | Tanggol Bayi (Defend Women) – Philippines | Grassroot/National | Philippines |
80 | The Center for Sustainable COmmunity Development (SCODE) | Grassroot/National | Vietnam |
81 | UBINIG | Grassroot/National | Bangladesh |
82 | V Day | Grassroot/National | Thailand |
83 | Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition | Grassroot/National | Vanuatu |
84 | Vanuatu Young Women For Change | Grassroot/National | Vanuatu |
85 | Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR)- New Ways | Grassroot/National | Türkiye |
86 | Women Forum For Women In Nepal (WOFOWON) | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
87 | Women Network for Energy and Environment (WoNEE) | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
88 | Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), Nepal | Grassroot/National | Nepal |
89 | YAPESDI | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
90 | Yayasan Perlindungan Insani | Grassroot/National | Indonesia |
Individual Sign-ons | ||
1 | Aaron Ceradoy | Hong Kong |
2 | Aasha Ramesh | India |
3 | Abdul Rahim Sitorus | Indonesia |
4 | Agatha | Myanmar |
5 | Ajeng Larasati | Indonesia |
6 | Alessandro | Thailand |
7 | Alina Saba | Nepal |
8 | Alma Sinumlag | Philippines |
9 | Amanda Ng | Malaysia |
10 | Andi Suraidah | Malaysia |
11 | Andrea Vega Troncoso | United States |
12 | Anjalee Karunaratne | Sri Lanka |
13 | Anna Hattunen | Finland |
14 | Aomtip Kerdplanant | Thailand |
15 | Ariel Ashe-Ramirez | USA |
16 | Arundhati Ghosh | India |
17 | Asmaul khusnaeny | Indonesia |
18 | Audrey Ledanois | Netherlands / France |
19 | Austin Adams | United States of America |
20 | Betty Barkha | Fiji |
21 | Bobby Ramakant | India |
22 | Burnad Fatima | India |
23 | Carole Petersen | United States |
24 | Charm | Philippines |
25 | Chin KS | Malaysia |
26 | Cristina Palabay | Philippines |
27 | Deepti Karan Weiss | Fiji |
28 | Dhyta Caturani | Indonesia |
29 | Dina Soro | Indonesia |
30 | Dominique Caouette | Canada |
31 | Dorothea Seibert | Germany |
32 | Dr Sandeep Pandey | India |
33 | Eduardo Raul Pereira | Canada |
34 | Eilert Lund Rostrup | Norge |
35 | Elina Welmiria | Indonesia |
36 | Emmy Sahertian | Indonesia |
37 | Eng Chandy | Cambodia |
38 | Erik Meade | USA |
39 | Eunha Kim | South Korea |
40 | Farid Ahmed | Bangladesh |
41 | Fe Esperanza Trampe | Philippines |
42 | Felister Gitonga | Kenya |
43 | Fern Garber | United states |
44 | Gobinda Chhantyal | Nepal |
45 | Gopika Bashi | India |
46 | Gurshaan Kaur Bajaj | Thailand |
47 | Hanna Gunnarsson | Germany |
48 | Iwasa Kazuyuki | Japan |
49 | Jamilah Elder | United States |
50 | Jaswinder Singh Sidhu | India |
51 | Jeff | Indonesia |
52 | Jill Biddington | Australia |
53 | Joan Carling | Philippines |
54 | Joie Chowdhury | Switzerland |
55 | Judy Taguiwalo | Philippines |
56 | Kala Peiris | Sri Lanka |
57 | Kalyani Raj | India |
58 | Karen Lai | Malaysia |
59 | Kathy Durand | Canada |
60 | Kevin Merwin | USA |
61 | Kunlakan | Thailand |
62 | Lahpai Nang Khar | Myanmar |
63 | Lean | Malaysia |
64 | Lean Deleon | USA |
65 | Lena Zimmer | Belgium |
66 | Lubha Neupane | Nepal |
67 | Maggi Quadrini | Thailand |
68 | Mandkhaitsetsen Urantulkhuur | Mongolia |
69 | Marc Lino Abila | Philippines |
70 | Maria Finesa Cosico | Philippines |
71 | Marion Struck-Garbe | Germany |
72 | Mi Mara Meo | Burma |
73 | Misran Lubis | Indonesia |
74 | Narayan Joshi | Nepal |
75 | Neles Tandamat | Indonesia |
76 | Nicole LaPorte | USA |
77 | Nisha Sabanayagam | Malaysia |
78 | Orawan Raweekoon | Thailand |
79 | Patricia Francia | Philippines |
80 | Paul Divakar N. | India |
81 | Paul Page | Switzerland |
82 | Philip Jamilla | Philippines |
83 | Poushali Bhadury | India |
84 | Quyen Nguyen | UK |
85 | Ramsha | Pakistan |
86 | Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk | Thailand |
87 | Rendilyn Cuyop | Philippines |
88 | Renuka Kad | India |
89 | Rhiannon Bryant | Thailand |
90 | Richard Baird | USA |
91 | Risca | Thailand |
92 | Ruby Hembrom | India |
93 | Sadia Afrin Khan | Bangladesh |
94 | Sarah Gabriel | Philippines |
95 | Sasha Dalabajan | Philippines |
96 | Dr. Shahabuddin Mughal | Pakistan |
97 | Shaylah Nichols | United States |
98 | Shobha Shukla | India/ UK |
99 | Sidra Humayun | Pakistan |
100 | Steph Madrid | Philippines |
101 | Syufra Malina | Indonesia |
102 | Tan Chia Ee | Malaysia |
103 | Tania Daniela | Indonesia |
104 | Tapan Chak | India |
105 | Tetet Nera-Lauron | Philippines |
106 | Thaufiek Zulbahary | Indonesia |
107 | Ting Guo | China |
108 | Ulrike Schaz | Germany |
109 | Urana D | Mongolia |
110 | Ursula Stott | United States of America |
111 | Vasantha Raghavachari | India |
112 | Wali Haider | Pakistan |
113 | Wichuda Homklin | Thailand |
114 | Widy Tanzyla | Indonesia |
115 | Wike Devi Erianti | Indonesia |
116 | William Nicholas Gomes | United Kingdom |
117 | Wim van Schie | Netherlands |
118 | Yen Nguyen | Viet Nam |
119 | Yolandri | Indonesia |
120 | ไพบูลย์ เฮงสุวรรณ | ไทย |
Updated on 2nd November 2020
Read the press statement by 210 civil society organisations and individuals urging the government of Thailand to immediately repeal the state of emergency and restore participatory democracy in the country, stop attacks against and criminalisation of peaceful protesters and refrain from any use of force and violence against them
For more information contact us at apwld@apwld.org