Thailand: land rights activist summoned for 'attitude adjustment'
Event- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 1, 2015
- Final Date
- Feb 5, 2015
- Event Description
The military has summoned a southern land rights activist for three days of detention after he led a group of local farmers to fight for their land rights. The military on Sunday the 1st February issued a letter summoning Peerat Bunrit, one of the leaders of Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Chai Buri District of Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand, to a so-called "attitude adjustment camp' for three days. The summons stated that in order to create a good environment conducive to returning happiness to the Thai people, the Surat Thani army command in compliance with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would like to summon Peerat to attend "attitude adjustment' for three days. The letter stipulates that Peerat has to report to the military from 10-11 am on Tuesday. Peerat told Prachatai that he will report in. Peerat is a southern land rights activist who has been promoting land rights for embattled landless villagers in Surat Thani in a prolonged legal struggle with Thai Boonthong, an oil palm company. The disputed land belongs to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO), who in 2010 allowed the villagers to settle on the land since the company's concession ended 14 years ago. However, the company has not moved out.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Freedom of association
- Land rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 9.138238900000003
Longitude: 99.3217483
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On the 1st February 2015, land rights activist Peerat Bunrit, one of the leaders of Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT), was summoned by the military to attend a so-called __�attitude adjustment camp' for three days. The summons is undoubtedly connected to his work in leading local farmers to fight for their land rights. UPDATE 9th February: Mr. Bunrit was released on condition that he would mediate between the army and the Premsub Community to urge the community to leave the area. He was reportedly threatened and told that he would be detained again for seven days should he not fulfil this condition.