Thai cops nab anti-coal leaders

BANGKOK: Thai police cracked down on the protest outside the Government House over the move to build a coal-fired power plant in Krabi, arresting 16 protesters including three leaders of the demonstration.

Legal experts condemned the move yesterday, saying it was a severe violation of the protesters’ rights and demanded that they be released immediately.

The NGO Coordinating Committee on Development, in its statement, demanded that the protesters be released immediately and without conditions.

It also called on the government to review the National Energy Policy Committee decision to go ahead with the plan to build a coal-fired power plant in Krabi. It urged the government to stop using coal for energy in Thailand.

Environmental groups started the prolonged protest in Bangkok on Friday to oppose the prime minister’s decision to go ahead with the coal-power plant in Krabi and invited people affected by the government’s policies nationwide to join their campaign.

Police conducted several raids on the protest yesterday and captured many protesters, including all leaders of the rally.

Officials said they were acting with authority under the absolute power of Article 44 in the interim charter.

Five key members of the protest Prasitchai Nu-nuan, Akkaradej Chakchinda, ML Rungkun Kitiya­kara, Banjong Nasae, and Thatcha­pong Kaedam were detained at the 11th Military Circle, an Army base in Bangkok. They were, however, released late yesterday.

The rest of the protesters who were arrested were taken to the Patrol and Special Operation Division.

None were allowed to meet their lawyers or family members.

Surachai Trongngam, secretary-general of the EnLAW Foundation and legal adviser for the protesters, said the officers action violated basic human rights and it was a misuse of power.

“I have tried to visit the protesters, who are detained at Military Circle 11.

“But my request was turned down, as the military officers argued that these protesters were arrested under the power of Article 44 of the interim charter, and therefore visitors were not allowed,” Surachai said.

The government then made a statement that the rest of the demonstrators will be released today and agreed to renew the project’s environmental impact assessment and the environmental health impact assessment.

However, Maha Sarakham University lecturer Chainarong Sretthachau also said that use of absolute power to crack down on peaceful protesters was a violation of human rights, because the Thai government had ratified international agreements. — The Nation/ Asian News Network