Thailand Appeal, Please endorse:

Dear friends,

The repression that has fallen upon the Thai opposition, the violence and the abuses of the regime haven’t brought about the international solidarity and condemnation which the situation demands. In these conditions, the authorities have a free hand to carry out their policy to crush the democratic movement.

It is to try to change this situation that we take the initiative to present before you this proposal of international call for an end to the repression suffered by the Red Shirts.

It is already extremely serious that such repression can take place in Thailand without causing practically any response at an international level. This appeal has two simple objectives: to call to international solidarity and to demand of the Thai regime that it puts an end to repression and that it respects basic human and democratic rights.

Contact address:

danielle.sabai@yahoo.fr

Against Repression in Thailand

For more than two months, the Red Shirts have mobilised with decisiveness and purpose in the streets of Bangkok to support their demands of democracy and social justice.

The government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva chose to respond to these demands with violence and repression. It committed a serious violation against human rights when it authorised the use of military hardware to dissolve the demonstrations. The result was extremely serious: there were at least 89 dead and nearly 2000 wounded.

Today, democratic rights are not respected: there are 99 arrest warrants against opponents. The places where most of the detainees are held are kept secret. The government has imposed censorship on the alternative media. The penalties incurred are especially severe: from 3 to 15 years for “lese majesty” to the death penalty for “terrorism”.

The Red Shirts are being treated by the government as if they were “terrorists”. It is a complex movement, but its members are mainly ordinary poor people whose most elementary political rights –like the respect due to the result of an election—have been ignored.

The Thai government can continue to repress the Thai people freely, because its constant violations against human rights have not been confronted by international solidarity and condemnation. We make a call to all progressive and democratic organizations to demand the end of the repression and the respect of fundamental rights in Thailand; to start an international campaign to obtain the freedom of political prisoners and the end of intimidation and inculpation of the Red Shirts.

We demand from the Thai government that it raises the State of Urgency and immediately re-establishes democratic freedoms in the country; that it ends the repression against the Red Shirts and that all prisoners are freed without any delay.

Signatures :