Released on 28 June 2009

News alert
Relatives of Takbai submit the petition on Takbai inquest decision
Criminal Court in Bangkok on Monday 29 June 2009
Human Rights organizations and villagers collecting signatures to support relatives

Monday 29 June 2009 at Criminal Court in Bangkok, relatives of Takbai together with lawyers will submit the petition to overrule the Takbai inquest decision delivered on 29 May 2009 of Chor 8/2009

Statement
Call for Royal Thai Government to immediately stop involuntary repatriation of Lao Hmong, to terminate using of all coercive tactics without regards to humanitarian principle and undermine human dignity of the Lao Hmong, and to grant access for Lao Hmong to the UNHCR process of refugee status determination.

As Royal Thai Government and the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic have agreed on repatriation of all 4,000 displaced Laos Hmong, taking shelter in Huay Nam Khao camp in Phetchaboon province in the north east of Thailand, back to Laos within September 2009. Since February 2007, Thailand and Laos have collaboratively repatriated over 2,000 Lao Hmong back to Lao including elderly, women and children.

The Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) and the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC) invite you to join with us to support the submission of complaints to three Geneva based UN Special Rapporteurs and the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. These complaints allege that denying access to the Social Security Office’s (SSO) Workmen’s Compensation Fund (WCF) to Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, following accidents at work, breaches the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. These complaint submissions will take place at 10am on Monday 30th March outside the United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For Immediate Release: 14th January 2009

Bangkok Civil Court accepted the civil lawsuit filed by the two Yala students against the Thai Army and Ministry of Defense.
The students are claiming for compensation for being tortured in army custody in 2008.

This challenge in Court of Justice aims at setting legal precedent to ensure responsibility of army personal and authority involved in the act of torture.

For Immediate Release: 27^th November 2008

Shan Migrant Workers’ Attempt to Challenge SSO Discrimination Defeated By Supreme Administrative Court Ruling

For Immediate Release: 10th October 2008
Open Letter: Call for All Parties to Take Responsibility for the 7th October 2008 Tragedy in Bangkok

Thailand’s Government has an obligation to respect and protect the rights and freedom of all persons. All the Government’s acts must be lawful based on rule of law and human rights principles. Restriction of people’s freedoms is prohibited except by virtue of law. Such restrictions must be proportionate and action must be taken only when necessary, whilst not materially affecting the important substance of such rights and freedoms.

Released on 20 October 2008  

News alert 

Army and Royal Thai Police objected to the appeal to seek court fee exemption

Local villagers and organizations will organize a fundraising event on 25 October 2008    to help mothers seek justice for their children who have lost their lives during detention

            On 25 September 2008, the judge advocate of the first defendant - the Ministry of Defence, the second defendant - the Royal Thai Army and the third defendant - the Royal Thai Police, lodged an objection to the request of Ms. Baedao Sama-ae for an exemption of court fee.  Ms. Sama-ae has filed a civil lawsuit (Black Case no. 4039/2551) against the three agencies, to seek compensation for the death of her son who is believed to have died from torture during the detention. On 16 July 2008, the Civil Court dismissed Ms. Sama-ae’s request for exemption of court fees. Since Ms. Sama-ae has been unable to raise the 30,000 baht required as court fees, the civil case has not been admitted by the Court.