Thailand: Deputy PM intimidates activists
Event- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2013
- Event Description
On 12 May 2013, Mr. Suraswadi reportedly gave a media interview while checking the status of preparations of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit, warning environmental activists, water-resources activists, and other members of civil society that they would be arrested if they protested at the upcoming 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit. He allegedly stated that "if you come to protest you will be arrested; do not come to protest. Those who violate this instruction will be arrested; this is not a place for demonstration. . . Do not come, it is against the law and I will order your arrest.Those people in Chiang Mai should not allow these garbage-like people to clutter up the meeting, follow what I just said". 28/05/2013- JAL sent by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. No response has been given as of May 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 18.787743800000012
Longitude: 98.9931189
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 12 May 2013, Mr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, reportedly gave a media interview prior to the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Chiang Mai from 14 to 20 May 2013, warning environmental activists, water-resources activists, and other members of civil society that they would be arrested if they protested at the Summit. 28/05/2013- JAL sent by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. No response has been given as of May 2014.