Thailand: anti-mining activists facing defamation claims
Event- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2014
- Event Description
The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) and other human rights groups have expressed grave concern over the use of criminal defamation lawsuits as a means to pressure human rights defenders. The concern comes following the October 29 decision of the Phuket Provincial Court to proceed with a criminal defamation suit against Surapan Rujichaiwat from Loei province in north-eastern Thailand. The suit has been brought by Tungkum Co Ltd (TKL), a mining company, after Rujichaiwat and other anti-mining activists alleged that TKL was behind an incident of 15 May 2014 where unidentified armed men assaulted villagers, burned tents and huts in mining areas, and passed the blame on to the villagers. TKL has also brought a number of other civil and criminal cases against members of the Khon Rak Ban Koed Group (KRBK), including Porntip Hongchai, who is due to appear at the same court on November 3 on criminal defamation charges.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Event Location
Latitude: 7.8804479
Longitude: 98.3922504
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On the 15th August 2014, anti-mining activists Surapan Rujichaiwat and Porntip Hongchai were sued for defamation by mining company Tungkum Co Ltd (TKL) after they alleged that TKL was behind an incident of 15 May 2014 where unidentified armed men assaulted villagers, burned tents and huts in mining areas, and passed the blame on to the villagers. A Thai court chose to uphold the defamation lawsuit against Rujichaiwat on the 29th October. Hongchai is due to appear in court on the same charges on the 3rd November.