Death threats against Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak

Death threats

Thailand

September 25, 2020

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDHand the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Thailand.

Description of the situation:

TheObservatory has been informed by reliable sources about death threats againstMr. Lertsak Kumkongsak, advisor of the Campaign for Public Policy onMineral Resources (PPM), coordinator of the Ecological and Cultural StudyGroup, and advisor of the Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources[1].

Accordingto the information received, since August 13, 2020, Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak hasbeen receiving serious and repeated death threats in relation to his support tothe blockade of a quarry mining site in Dongmafai Subdistrict, SuwannakuhaDistrict, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, northeastern Thailand. Mr. LertsakKumkongsak has been verbally threatened by people believed to have ties to themining company, that he would be killed if he did not stop protesting againstthe mining operations. Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak has also been approached severaltimes by unidentified people carrying guns and other weapons, and has also beenmonitored.

SinceAugust 13, 2020, the entrance of the quarry mine has been occupied by the Community of Khao Lao Yai-Pha Jun Dai ForestConservation Group in an attempt to permanently shut down mining operations.This environmental community-based group has been campaigning since 1994 forthe closure of the mine site, which hinders the villagers’ access to food inthe nearby community forest and whose daily explosions are causing noisepollution and damages to nearby households of approximately 4,000 people. Between1995 and 1999, four members of the community were killed for opposing theconstruction of the mine.

TheObservatory expresses its utmost concern over the death threats received by Mr.Lertsak Kumkongsak, which seem to be only aimed at stopping him from carryingout his legitimate human rights activities.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities tocarry out an independent, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigationinto these threats in order to identify those responsible and bring them beforean independent, competent and impartial court. The Observatory also calls uponthe Thai authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the physicalintegrity of Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak.

Actions requested:

Pleasewrite to the authorities of Thailand asking them to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychologicalwell-being of Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak and all other human rights defenders inThailand, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out theirlegitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals;

ii. Carry out an independent, thorough,impartial, and transparent investigation into the death threats against Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak in order toidentify those responsible and sanction them in accordance with the law;

iii. Ensurethat an end be put to all acts of harassment against Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak, and all human rightsdefenders in the country;

iv. Comply with all theprovisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adoptedby the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular Articles 1, 5, 6and 12.

v. Ensure in all circumstancesrespect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance withinternational human rights standards and international instruments to whichThailand is a State party.

Addresses:

· Mr. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister ofThailand, Email: spmwebsite@thaigov.go.th

· Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of ForeignAffairs of Thailand, Email: minister@mfa.go.th

· Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Justice ofThailand, Email: complainingcenter@moj.go.th

· Gen Apirut Kongsompong, Commander in Chief ofthe Royal Thai Army, Email: webadmin@rta.mi.th

· Pol Gen Chaktip Chaijinda, Commissioner-Generalof the Royal Thai Police, Email: info@royalthaipolice.go.th

· Mr. Prakairat Tanteerawong, National HumanRights Commissioner of Thailand, Email: Prakairatana@nhrc.or.th/ Prakairatanao@yahoo.com

· H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassador,Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland,Email: mission.thailand@ties.itu.int

· Embassy of Thailand in Brussels, Belgium,Email: thaibxl@pophost.eunet.be

Please also write tothe diplomatic representations of Thailand in your respective countries.

***

Paris-Geneva, September 25, 2020

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of thisappeal in your reply.

The Observatory for the Protection of HumanRights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the WorldOrganisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is toprevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDHand OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the EuropeanUnion Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civilsociety.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT +41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / +41 22 809 49 29

[1] The Network of People Who Own MineralResources is a network that monitors development projects related to mineralresources by the state and by the business sector.