Political crisis in Thailand that has led to my arrest warrant
Red Shirt | 30.05.2010 10:29 | Anti-militarism
Arrest warrant issued for Prateep Ungsongtham Hata. Prateep is a Thai activist noted for her work with slum dwellers in the Khlong Toey district of Bangkok, Thailand. A former Senator for Bangkok, she was awarded the 1978 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. She is Secretary General of the Duang Prateep Foundation.
May 25, 2010
Subject: Political crisis in Thailand that has led to my arrest warrant
Dear Generous Supporters and friends,
First of all, I would like to apologize for bringing up a troublesome subject to communicate to you. I would like to ask for a few minutes of your time to consider factual evidence and circumstances that have occurred in Thailand. In addition, I would like to explain my involvement in the recent situations to you as well.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) began its gathering in the middle of March. UDD had only one request – that the Prime Minister dissolve the parliament. During the one-year and a half in the office, the government has failed in many ways. A large part of the population feels that their economic hardship has not improved. Many social issues, such as the problems in the deep South of the country, drug usage among Thai youth, and environmental issues like the one at Maab Taa Put Industrial Complex, worsened. There are also many grand-scale corruption cases relating to various government projects. Asking for a parliamentary dissolution, which would lead to a nationwide election, is a right of the population in a democratic society.
On 10 April 2010, the government used force to break up one group of the protestors on Rachadumneon Boulevard. Twenty-five people lost their lives and over eight hundred injured. After the incident, the government still continued to use force. As of 19 May 2010, the total death toll increased to 86 individuals, while more than 2000 people were injured.
As a peace-loving citizen, I wanted to help the people and their families who were affected by the government’s violent crackdown. Since 11 April, I visited the injured in many hospitals around Bangkok and met the families of those who lost their lives. Many of the deceased had young children or dependence. Many of the injured will become disabled for the rest of their lives. I am very saddened to see this. For all my life that I have been helping people in difficult circumstances, I understand full well the hardship they will have to endure as a result of the government’s brutal actions.
During and after the failed negotiation between the UDD and the government, the government continued to press ahead with measures that undoubtedly violated the international practices of crowd control. Many more people were sent to the hospital, or died, especially in Bon Kai area, which is near Klong Toey. Many of those victims did not participate in the UDD movement. They got injured while carrying on their normal lives. Some were going to work; some were simply out to buy food, etc. Nevertheless, they became victims of the government’s unrestraint and reckless use of force. Meanwhile, the highly respected and powerful individuals in the country chose not to come out to stop the government from killing innocent civilians.
Some of the leaders in Klong Toey community and myself decided to express our sincere wish for peace. We no longer wanted to see Thais kill Thais. We set up a small stage at Klong Toey intersection, with signs such as “Stop the Violence!” or “Stop killing civilian!”
In addition to our efforts, there were many groups in Thai society who urged the government to negotiate. Most notable was the group of 65 senators, led by the Head of the Senate, who agreed to be the middle person in the negotiation to resolve the conflict. However, the government declined the peace talk and rolled on tanks to the main protesting area in Ratchaprasong in the morning of 19 May.
Even after the UDD leaders already announced they would stop the demonstration and surrender to the police, the use of force by the government continued. The saddest episode happened at a temple called Wat Pathum Wanaram, in which many people, mostly women and children sought refuge. There were reports of soldiers firing into the temple, including at the First Aid tent, where a few medical volunteers lost their lives.
The government has an arrest warrant on me and has frozen my bank accounts, along with others whom it deemed to be on the opposite side politically. There were never evidence or investigation into whether these people on the list had any involvement in the “terrorist” activities that the government has claimed. I have asked myself if I was guilty of petitioning for the end of violence and killing.
When ignorance and selfishness obscured wisdom and goodness of the powerful in the society, disaster inevitably arrived. O…what a sad state Thailand has become!
I can only hope that this tragedy has provided many factions in Thai society with an invaluable lesson – that the government, which has the power in its hands, uses wisdom and conscience in solving the problems of the society with sincerity. Problems need real peaceful solutions, not the play with words nor the tainting of evidences as this government has done. One of the core grievances of the UDD that even non-UDD people understand is the existence of double standards in the society during the past few years. This must be addressed in order to bring about peace in Thai society.
I would like to thank you for your impartial and careful judgment of the circumstances, and for your continuous support of the Duang Prateep Foundation. I truly hope that my participation in the peaceful petition to the government will not affect your generous support of my humanitarian work.
Best Regards,
Ms. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata
A victim of the violence act by the Thai government
Subject: Political crisis in Thailand that has led to my arrest warrant
Dear Generous Supporters and friends,
First of all, I would like to apologize for bringing up a troublesome subject to communicate to you. I would like to ask for a few minutes of your time to consider factual evidence and circumstances that have occurred in Thailand. In addition, I would like to explain my involvement in the recent situations to you as well.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) began its gathering in the middle of March. UDD had only one request – that the Prime Minister dissolve the parliament. During the one-year and a half in the office, the government has failed in many ways. A large part of the population feels that their economic hardship has not improved. Many social issues, such as the problems in the deep South of the country, drug usage among Thai youth, and environmental issues like the one at Maab Taa Put Industrial Complex, worsened. There are also many grand-scale corruption cases relating to various government projects. Asking for a parliamentary dissolution, which would lead to a nationwide election, is a right of the population in a democratic society.
On 10 April 2010, the government used force to break up one group of the protestors on Rachadumneon Boulevard. Twenty-five people lost their lives and over eight hundred injured. After the incident, the government still continued to use force. As of 19 May 2010, the total death toll increased to 86 individuals, while more than 2000 people were injured.
As a peace-loving citizen, I wanted to help the people and their families who were affected by the government’s violent crackdown. Since 11 April, I visited the injured in many hospitals around Bangkok and met the families of those who lost their lives. Many of the deceased had young children or dependence. Many of the injured will become disabled for the rest of their lives. I am very saddened to see this. For all my life that I have been helping people in difficult circumstances, I understand full well the hardship they will have to endure as a result of the government’s brutal actions.
During and after the failed negotiation between the UDD and the government, the government continued to press ahead with measures that undoubtedly violated the international practices of crowd control. Many more people were sent to the hospital, or died, especially in Bon Kai area, which is near Klong Toey. Many of those victims did not participate in the UDD movement. They got injured while carrying on their normal lives. Some were going to work; some were simply out to buy food, etc. Nevertheless, they became victims of the government’s unrestraint and reckless use of force. Meanwhile, the highly respected and powerful individuals in the country chose not to come out to stop the government from killing innocent civilians.
Some of the leaders in Klong Toey community and myself decided to express our sincere wish for peace. We no longer wanted to see Thais kill Thais. We set up a small stage at Klong Toey intersection, with signs such as “Stop the Violence!” or “Stop killing civilian!”
In addition to our efforts, there were many groups in Thai society who urged the government to negotiate. Most notable was the group of 65 senators, led by the Head of the Senate, who agreed to be the middle person in the negotiation to resolve the conflict. However, the government declined the peace talk and rolled on tanks to the main protesting area in Ratchaprasong in the morning of 19 May.
Even after the UDD leaders already announced they would stop the demonstration and surrender to the police, the use of force by the government continued. The saddest episode happened at a temple called Wat Pathum Wanaram, in which many people, mostly women and children sought refuge. There were reports of soldiers firing into the temple, including at the First Aid tent, where a few medical volunteers lost their lives.
The government has an arrest warrant on me and has frozen my bank accounts, along with others whom it deemed to be on the opposite side politically. There were never evidence or investigation into whether these people on the list had any involvement in the “terrorist” activities that the government has claimed. I have asked myself if I was guilty of petitioning for the end of violence and killing.
When ignorance and selfishness obscured wisdom and goodness of the powerful in the society, disaster inevitably arrived. O…what a sad state Thailand has become!
I can only hope that this tragedy has provided many factions in Thai society with an invaluable lesson – that the government, which has the power in its hands, uses wisdom and conscience in solving the problems of the society with sincerity. Problems need real peaceful solutions, not the play with words nor the tainting of evidences as this government has done. One of the core grievances of the UDD that even non-UDD people understand is the existence of double standards in the society during the past few years. This must be addressed in order to bring about peace in Thai society.
I would like to thank you for your impartial and careful judgment of the circumstances, and for your continuous support of the Duang Prateep Foundation. I truly hope that my participation in the peaceful petition to the government will not affect your generous support of my humanitarian work.
Best Regards,
Ms. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata
A victim of the violence act by the Thai government
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