Thailand: Government must protect human rights defenders
Amnesty International is gravely concerned by the recent killing of Charoen Wat-aksorn, a well-known human rights
defender, and is calling on Thai authorities to take immediate action to investigate his killing and to protect other
human rights defenders.
Charoeon Wat-aksorn, a prominent environmental activist, was shot by unidentified assailants on 22 June 2004, on his way
home from testifying to a parliamentary anti-corruption committee. He had reportedly recently filed a complaint about
the illegal seizures of public land. Charoen had recently successfully led a 10 year local campaign against the
construction of a coal fired power plant in Prajuab Keereekan province, southwest of Bangkok.
Amnesty International urges the Thai government to initiate an independent, impartial, effective and immediate
investigation into Charoen's death.
Moreover, Amnesty International remains concerned by the lack of a proper investigation into the recent deaths of other
human rights defenders, including six men killed between September and February 2003. Rural activists Boorith Chanarong,
Preecha Thonpan, Boonsom Nimnoi, Boonyong Intawong, Kaew Pinpanma, and Khampan Suksai had led community protests against
construction projects and illegal logging in their areas.
Amnesty International calls on the Thai government to demonstrate its commitment to protect human rights defenders by
ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done in the investigation of this and other killings, and by publicly
condemning this most recent killing in the strongest possible terms.
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