Thai Solidarity Campaign: End the Violence! Fresh Election in Thailand Now!

A peaceful demonstration will be taking place at the Royal Thai Embassy, in Westminster in response to the extrajudicial killings of protestors in Bangkok yesterday.

The ongoing political crisis in Thailand starting from the military crackdown on the protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the “Red Shirts”, since 10 April have led to the death of at least 70 people. The Thai government under the leadership of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva has clearly violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights regarding the rights to life of the protesters.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Article 6: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”

Article 9: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”

In the last development, after the Red Shirts leaders have surrendered yesterday to the government to prevent further losses of lives. On 19 May 2010, the military under the direction of Abhisit Vejajiva rolled tanks and army personnel carriers together, with military shooting into the site of the protest in Rajaprasong area in central Bangkok, led to the death of one Italian journalist and three more protesters. The Red Shirt protesters, however, refuse to disperse. Some resorted to arson attacks at banks, government offices, and the high-end shopping malls the capital. A similar process has been happening in the 22 provinces in North and Northeastern part of Thailand. In the northern city of Chiang Mai, grenades have been thrown at two banks.

The government, which has declared the state of emergency in 24 provinces in the country, has stated that anyone caught with the arson attack will be given the death penalty.

The International Solidarity for Thailand, as a campaign group consisted of trade unionists, NGO and anti-sweatshop activists, and student activists, want to see the political crisis in Thailand to defuse peacefully.

We, therefore:

1. Demand an end to the violence by all parties. We call both the government and the red shirt protesters to cease violence whether in the form of military extra-judicial killings of the protesters or arson attack on properties.
2. Condemn the mass incriminate killings of the protesters by the Thai government. We further call on the international community to monitor the process in getting the perpetrators behind the killings of protesters to be put to task. The government shall never be able to leave with impunity.
3. Demand the government to end the oppression of the media in Thailand. A minimum of 12,000 websites have been shut down by the government since it has taken office and call on the government to abide by the international standard of good governance and rule of law.
4. Demand for the government to call for immediate elections and house dissolution. We believe that the current crisis in Thailand can be solved by political means and never through the military. The government needs to let the peoples decide for themselves on the future of their country.

In solidarity with the Thai peoples

The International Solidarity for Thailand Campaign

More from The Multicultural Politic

• Thailand Solidarity Protest for Democracy @ Royal Thai Embassy London – 20th May, 4 – 6pm
• Join the International Solidarity Campaign for Thailand – May 20th
• Report: UK Protest in solidarity for the struggle for Democracy in Thailand

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