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back to homepage THAILAND: Criminal and civil lawsuits against a women's rights activist by a former police commander Dear Friends, 8 December 2004 We express our deep concern with the law suits against Ms. Ticha Na-Nakorn by General San Sarutanon, the Chief Commander of the Royal Thai police with charges of alleged defamation through an article in a newspaper on 30 Oct 2003 . She condemned the case of sexual harassment of a TV news reporter by a high ranking officer during the Mobile Cabinet meeting in May-June 2003 in Phuket and Ubonratchtanee Province . The criminal law suit was initiated in November 2003 and the civil law suit started in June 2004. Ms. Ticha had been summoned to the court for 7 times since last year. The legal action initiated by Gen. San Sarutanon against Ms. Ticha Na-Nakorn is an act to suppress advocacy for human rights issues and is an example of silencing of human rights activists. Ms. Ticha has been advocating on issues of protection, promotion and education of child rights and women’s rights for more than 20 years. In this particular case, she was advocating for a woman who was subjected to sexual harassment committed by the perpetrator who is considered a public leader and in a high position of authority in Thailand . Her long term activities for promoting rights of children and women guaranteed under the Constitution are significant contribution to promoting equality and democracy in Thailand . We are extremely worried that a law suit against a human rights activist by the attorney general marks the start of a trend against human rights advocates, especially women human rights activists in Thailand, depriving them of their basic human rights enshrined both in the constitution of the Thailand and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of expression. We urge you to write to the Thai Government (contact details below) in support of Ms. Ticha demanding withdrawal of the case both from civil and criminal courts. Yours sincerely, International Coordinating Committee for the International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders: Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Amnesty International (AI), Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), Forum Asia, Inform, Frontline, International League for Human Rights, Amanitare, ISIS- Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange, The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women's Rights (CLADEM). Secretariat: APWLD, Santitham YMCA 3rd floor, Room 305-308, 11 Sermsuk Road , Mengrairasmi, Chiangmai 50300 Thailand. PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO: |
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