Since 22 May 2014, iLaw has collected data on NCPO intervention in public activities. The information can be categorized by year as followings:
1. Table of Restriction and Intervention in Public Activities in 2014
Number | Date | Type | Name of Activity | Organizer | Location | Remark |
1 | 14-Jun-14 | Restriction | Screening the film “1984” | The “Punya Movie Club” | Chiang Mai | Police officers detained Badinh and cancelled the event due to copyright infringement. |
2 | 2-Jul-14 | Intervention | Hanging a banner to commemorate the 2006 military coup and the death of Nuamthong Praiwan | Thai Student Center for Democracy (TSCD) | Bangkok | Policemen fined 1,000 baht per student for violating Section 10 of the Act to Maintain Cleanliness and Order of the Nation. |
3 | 23-Jul-14 | Restriction | Hosting a camp about problems of Thai education | Students from Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University | Chiang Mai | Soldiers requested Kengkij not to speak and police will attend the talk, therefore the seminar is later cancelled. Military officers also interrogate about campaigning in the university and issue a letter to forbid making movements. |
4 | 24-Jul-14 | Restriction | Reading a declaration that advocates the concept of “Chiang Mai’s Self-Government.” | The Self-Governing Chiang Mai Movement | Chiang Mai | Army officers requested the ceasing of the activity and invited the participants for a conversation. No arrest is made. |
5 | 25-Jul-14 | Intervention | Protesting Israeli military operations against Palestine | Al Quds International Council of Thailand | Bangkok | On 27 July 2014, military authorities issued a warrant to explain the activity but no arrests were made. |
6 | 8-Aug-14 | Restriction | Seminar “Democracy Classroom: Unit 1, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) 2014” | League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) | Bangkok | Army authorities sent a letter to the Thammasat University Chancellor requesting cooperation to cancel the event as it may create political tension. |
7 | 10-Aug-14 | Intervention | Campaigning “Stop Sending Weapons, Stop Killing in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” | Amnesty International Thailand (AI) | Bangkok | State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officers escorted the activists to meet authorities at the SRT office. No arrests were made. |
8 | 17-Aug-14 | Restriction | Hosting the event “Light Up Night: Night of Human Rights in Chiang Mai” | Amnesty International Thailand (AI) | Chiang Mai | The Military requested the cancelling of the activity as it violated the NCPO’s ban on the gathering for than five persons and it is related to political issues. |
9 | 19-Aug-14 | Intervention | Marching the protest “Partnership for Energy Reform” | The Partnership for Energy Reform | Songkhla | Police and military officers arrested the activists during the march and detained them for four days under the Public Assembly Act. |
10 | 24-Aug-14 | Intervention | Marching the protest “Partnership for Energy Reform” | The Partnership for Energy Reform | Bangkok | Officers detained campaigners for 4 days. The arrest is based on an earlier case on 18 August 2014 and the protesters are charged with unauthorized gathering for more than five persons under the martial law. |
11 | 31-Aug-14 | Restriction | Demanding for justice against the Criminal Court’s ruling to dismiss ‘Abhisit and Suthep’ | Families and relatives of 2010 Red Shirt Protesters | Bangkok | Authorities detained the participants, sent them for attitude-adjustment and asked them for cooperation to obey the NCPO’s order. However, they were charged with violating the Act to Maintain Cleanliness and Order of the Nation and were fined 5,000 baht. |
12 | 2-Sep-14 | Restriction | Media advisory and seminar “Justice under construction” | Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), and Amnesty International Thailand (AI) | Bangkok | Military authorities requested cancelling activity because it may violate the Public Assembly Act. |
13 | 18-Sep-14 | Restriction | Seminar “Democracy Classroom: Unit 2, The Collapse of Dictatorial Regimes in Foreign Countries” | League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) | Pathum Thani | Soldiers sent a letter to request for cooperation to cancel the seminar and interrupted the event “to prevent disunity of the nation”. |
14 | 23-Sep-14 | Restriction | Academic seminar on the Establishment of Bua Yai Province Bill | Graduate School of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University | Nakhon Ratchasima | Military officers occupied the event to prevent further conflict. |
15 | 24-Sep-14 | Restriction | Academic seminar “Have You Put a Bucket on Today?” | Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University | Chiang Mai | Army authorities, through a phone call, asked for negotiations. Later, they sent a letter to ask for cooperation in postponing the activity. |
16 | 25-Sep-14 | Restriction | Academic seminar “Happiness and Harmony under the 2014 Interim Constitution” | Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University | Chiang Mai | Soldiers, through a phone call, requested for cooperation. |
17 | 5-Oct-14 | Intervention | Academic seminar “Thai History: The Construction and the Deconstruction” | Dome Front Agora | Bangkok | The seminar was allowed by the NCPO. However, before the event, army officers visited to express that the content should avoid matters of national security. |
18 | 6-Oct-14 | Restriction | Commemoration “October 6th, the Day the Sky Changes Colors” | Spiral Morrrit | Lumpang | Military authorities asked to cancel the event due to harmful content. |
19 | 16-Oct-14 | Intervention | The Lahu planned to appeal to the NCPO as military officers confiscate buildings in Taksin Maharat National Park | Lahu People | Tak | The military called the Lahu people and their leader for attitude adjustment, ordered them not to make any movements and leave the territory. |
20 | 22-Oct-14 | Intervention | Campaigning to erode the 12 National Core Values | Education for Liberation of Siam | Bangkok | Military officers phoned the group’s secretariat requesting information. |
21 | 5-Nov-14 | Intervention | Organizing a closed meeting to consult villagers who sued over Xayaburi Dam and Don Sahong Dam | Network of Thai Non-Governmental Organizations on National Resources and Environment in Northeast, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, and the Assembly of NGOs For the Protection and Conservation of Environment and Natural Resources | Khon Kaen | Police and military authorities enterred meeting room, while intelligence officers observed the activity. They followed 17 people who signed the declaration “No Reformation under the NCPO’s Top Boots.” |
22 | 9-Nov-14 | Restriction | Walk rally “First Step for Land Reform” | Northern Peasant Federation (NPF) and its allies | Chiang Mai | Soldiers asked the activity’s leaders to cease the rally. |
23 | 11-Nov-14 | Intervention | – | Lawyers from Community Resources Centre Foundation (CRC) and villagers who sue over Xayaburi Dam and Don Sahong Dam | Udon Thani | Soldiers and Policemen made inquiries of the participants and invited them to compose a request letter. After the organizer refused, the army brought the document to sign to the participants and asked for the seminar’s papers. |
24 | 12-Nov-14 | Intervention | Walk rally “First Step for Land Reform” | Northern Peasant Federation (NPF) | Chiang Mai | Officers from the army requested the protestors not to wear any shirts or symbols to meet with ML Panadda Diskul but the leaders refused. |
25 | 15-Nov-14 | Restriction | Saturday Speaking Stage’s third session “Step Beyond Conflicts to Consolidation” | Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University | Nakhon Pathom | The military gave a notice to cancel the event because the topic is inappropriate. |
26 | 16-Nov-14 | Restriction | Talk-show concert “Our soil but whose land?” | Four Laws for the Poor Coordinating Centre | Bangkok | Authorities from Royal Palace Guard’s Second Cavalry Division inquired about the activity from the planners because they are afraid that it will be political. Also they feel uncomfortable with some MCs, so they asked planners to show them their content before the activity. Later the officers requested to cancel the event and then the demonstration moved to the 14 October Memorial instead. |
27 | 16-Nov-14 | Restriction | “No Talk-Show under Top Boots” | Four Laws for the Poor Coordinating Centre | Bangkok | Police officers coordinated with the leaders to cancel the activity and bring them to attitude adjustment. |
28 | 18-Nov-14 | Restriction | Protesting against the environmental health impact assessment (EHIA) for Mae Wong Dam | Kasetsart University students against Mae Wong Dam | Bangkok | Policemen seized the area around Kasetsart University. Though the students earlier explained that the protest had no political implications, the police insisted on cancelling the demonstration. |
29 | 19-Nov-14 | Restriction | Seminar “From Mae Wong Dam to ERC… Who Slips in EHIA?” | Thai Society of Environmental Journalists | Bangkok | During the activity, authorities from police and army asked to cancel the seminar for nation’s peace building. |
30 | 20-Nov-14 | Restriction | “Land, Inequality, Tax: a Step We Need to Decide Together” | Bangkok | Army officers arrived at the library and asked to meet with the owner but the individual was not present. Pol.Lt.Col. Pallop from Bang Rak Police Station then asked to cancel the event, reasoning the content is related to tax management and the government’s policy which may confuse the public. the MC is a politician, and at that time it is still under martial law. | |
31 | 20-Nov-14 | Restriction | Screening the film “The Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay Part 1” | League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) | Bangkok | Authorities from police asked the theatre not to screen the film the Hunger Games as the LLTD schedule for the public before arresting three of their leaders. Later they were issued warnings and released. |
32 | 22-Nov-14 | Restriction | Saturday Speaking Stage’s fourth session “Which Parliamentary System is the hope to Thai’s Democracy?” | Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University | Bangkok | The government requested that permission must be granted before hosting a seminar but the NCPO failed to issue the letter in time. |
33 | 24-Nov-14 | Restriction | “Rights and Freedom of Thai People in the Era of Democracy” | Paradoxocracy Rally along with second year Political Science students of Burapa University | Chonburi | Officers from army and police met with the Associate Dean of Faculty of Political Science’s Student Affair and requested to cancel activity as the seminar opposed the coup. |
34 | 25-Nov-14 | Intervention | “Eating and Debating Student Activities under Martial Law” | Activists from Chiang Mai University | Chiang Mai | More than 30 police and soldiers observed the area. |
35 | 10-Dec-14 | Restriction | Collecting color pens for students in rural areas, to promote children’s rights to education on Human Rights Day | We Watch Network (Led by Ramkhamhaeng University Students) | Bangkok | The army threatened and pressured the event’s leader to ask for permission from the NCPO run the event. However, the event was cancelled because Ramkhamheang students, who requested to help with the activity, were intimidated from fear of arrest and that the participation in the event would affect their schooling. |
36 | 14-Dec-14 | Intervention | Commemoration event to remember life and work of Sakchai Bamrungpong (Senee Saowapong) | Pridi Banomyong Institute along with the Writers Association of Thailand, Sriburapa Fund, the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand, and Jayavana Foundation | Bangkok | Officers from the army travelled to the institute to ask for information and request to attend the seminar. |
37 | 15-Dec-14 | Intervention | Seminar “Sustainable Resolution of Land and Forest Issues and Management of Natural Resources in People’s Version” to deliver the recommendations together with their nationwide network to ML Panadda Diskul at the Government House | Network of Famers in the North of Northeastern Thailand | Mahasarakham | Two days before the activity, security forces and the governor did not allow the event. The next day, Lamlek Nimnual was brought to a military camp to be talked through to no hosting . He was banned from discussing about three subjects: NCPO’s work, politics, and the government’s policy. On the day of the event, more than 60 officers from the police, the army and the volunteer defense corps arrived at the venue, asked for the name of every participant, and inquired into routes the villagers use to travel back. |
38 | 16-Dec-14 | Restriction | “Energy Seminar” to make known the information about gas and oil drilling concession to the public | Nakhon Ratchasima | Soldiers gave an urgent order to call off the event, even though the event had prior approval. | |
39 | 25-Dec-14 | Intervention | Walking and studying the river ecosystem to discover problems of water management and generating alternatives in villagers’ version | River Rally of villagers from Southern Chi River Basin | Yasothon | Yasothon’s Assistant of Security Affairs Group, eight soldiers, and policemen negotiated with the villagers. The authorities offered to stop the march after the negotiation. The results of the negotiations are that the villagers are asked to travel by car and are not allowed to display cloth banners and the group’s symbol, due to martial law. |
2. Table of Restriction and Intervention in Public Activities in 2015
Number | Date | Type | Name of Activity | Organization | Location | Remark |
1 | 22-Jan-15 | Intervention | The theatrical performance “Bang Lamerd” | B-floor Theater | Bangkok | About one or two days before the performance, officers from the army give a call to observe every round of the show as the organizers do not write a request letter for the arrangement. |
2 | 25-Jan-15 | Intervention | Seminar for a subject Phare’s Political Studies “Identity, Body and Townsfolk” | The Active Generation of Phrae Family | Phrae | Military officers inform that the term “rebellion” is sensitive to the current situation and also request to take away the article “History of Local Nationalism: Case Study of Phrae Rebel (1902)” and some part of Pensupa Sukata’s writing from the event. |
3 | 29-Jan-15 | Restriction | Media advisory “Annual Human Rights Report for 2014” | Human Rights Watch (HRW) | Bangkok | HRW decides to publish the annual human rights report of Thailand for this year online because the political climate does not allow hosting media advisories like the past years. |
4 | 30-Jan-15 | Restriction | Media advisory “Asian Media Barometer: Thailand 2014” | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Thailand (FES) and Thai Journalist Association (TJA) | Bangkok | The army coordinate the event’s planners to postpone the activity because its content is considered as being full of risk. |
5 | 1-Feb-15 | Intervention | Seminar “Rights and Freedom of People under the Draft Cyber Security Bill” | The Santi Pracha Dhamma Library | Bangkok | Military officers ask to record a video and join the panelists. |
6 | 7-Feb-15 | Intervention | Chula – Thammasat Traditional Football Match | Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University | Bangkok | The two universities’ politics-mocking sequence is an every-year tradition. Yet the military intelligence corps ask for cooperation to abandon the mocking march. The situation results in some of Thammasat’s mimicking cloth banners are confiscated. |
7 | 14-Feb-15 | Intervention | “My Dear Election” | Resistant Citizen | Bangkok | Authorities come to observe the activity before arresting four leaders of the group for violating the NCPO’s order no. 7/2014 on no political gatherings. |
8 | 22-Feb-15 | Intervention | Symbolic protest “the Bird with its Mouth and Legs Tied up” | Group of Free People Thailand 58 | Bangkok | The activity contains symbolic expression and t-shirts screened “Free People Thailand 58” are distributed. The police also come to take care of the order but later they charge the event’s leaders with creating a disturbance and fine 100 baht each. |
9 | 22-Feb-15 | Intervention | Seminar “In Remembrance of the 26 February 1949 Democracy Movement” | The Santi Pracha Dhamma Library | Bangkok | Officers tell the seminar’s organizers to ask for permission from the NCPO. Later, the NCPO allows conducting the activity as the content is not related to the monarchy and does not incite the conflict. |
10 | 27-Feb-15 | Intervention | Seminar “Political Reform for Beauty, Prosperity and Justice” | Faculty of Political Science, Ubon Ratchathani University | Ubon Ratchathani | Soldiers have a talk with the organizers. They ask to replace more two lecturers who are members of the National Reform Council with the current panelists. Also, they request to adjust lecturers’ names on event promotion flyers as they required and change the venue of the event. |
11 | 6-Mar-15 | Restriction | Seminar “Politics under the NCPO’s Climate: Which Way Will NGOs Move Towards to?” by Bamrung Kayota | NGO Coordinating Committee on Development – North (NCOCOD) | Chiang Mai | The military and security forces feel uncomfortable so they request to call off the event. |
12 | 11-Mar-15 | Intervention | Seminar “The Future of Politics in Thailand” | Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) | Bangkok | Before the seminar starts, authorities arrive and ask the event’s planners not to speak ill of the NCPO or those who are not presently at the activity. Also, they station their officers to record a video of the seminar. |
13 | 11-Mar-15 | Restriction | Academic Service to Community Project 2015 brainstorming and discussing “Boosting Villagers’ Immunity with Energy Policy and Situation of Oil and Natural Gas Exploration in Kalasin: Lessons Learnt from Kam Pai and Non-Sanga Villages” | Kalasin | Kalasin’s District Chief Officer along with authorities from police and army forces travel into the area, demand taking down banners and calling off the activity immediately. He reasons that at that time there is no rights and the community cannot break apart. | |
14 | 16-Mar-15 | Intervention | Seminar “Oppose Trialing Civilians in the Military Court” | League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) | Pathum Thani | Policemen request to cancel the seminar but the students insist on continuing. The police then ask for a list of participants. |
15 | 17-Mar-15 | Intervention | Placing encouraging banners for Dr. Narong Sahametapat, Ex-Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health | Dr. Prachumporn Booncharoen | Surin | Dr. Narong’s case causes the staff from Surin Hospital to give support by carrying out a symbolic performance with banners and black clothing. After, they are given a warrant to report at military camp. However, they are unable to do so, the military then travel to the hospital when Dr.Prachumporn explains that all the banners are already put down. |
16 | 18-Mar-15 | Intervention | Seminar “Freedom of Assembly/ Anarchy on the Streets” | Legal Research and Development Center, Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University | Chiang Mai | Military authorities give a call saying that hosting the seminar at that time is unfitting, but the organizers reply that it is because the Draft Assembly Act is being passed soon. |
17 | 21-Mar-15 | Intervention | The State Railway Workers’ Union Saving | Ubon Ratchathani | ||
18 | 24-Mar-15 | Intervention | Hosting an activity in the university to provide information about advantages and disadvantages of university privatization | Students from Kasetsart University | Bangkok | Officers warn the students not to host any activities again. They also try to seize one of the students’ telephone which is used to record the warning, and threaten to delete the clip. |
19 | 8-Apr-15 | Intervention | Groups of students, led by Burapha University Villagers’ Children Group | Chonburi | Authorities from the army and police forces occupy the event using Article 44. They claim they are afraid that talking about university privatization will be beyond its subject and the permission is not granted for hosting such activity. In the end, the officers ask for one of the organizers’ name and phone number, and take a picture of his ID card. | |
20 | 10-Apr-15 | Restriction | Making merit for the heroes who die during the military crackdown in 2010 | Families and relatives of May 2010 Heroes | Pathum Thani | Soldiers, policemen and local officers inquire the abbot to find out who organizes the merit making ceremony. When they know, they travel to the person’s home and ask to abandon the activity as they are afraid that it will be a political gathering, though the organizer asks to host it privately at home. |
21 | 11-Apr-15 | Intervention | “Elderly asks for forgiveness, water-pouring ceremony and asks a blessing from youth” to apologize to the youth for leaving the society in trouble | We the Equal Citizen (led by Charnvit Kasetsiri) | Bangkok | Thammasat University closes all of its entrances and exits and does not allow using its space for the activity, reasoning that it is the NCPO’s special order which says there is a hidden agenda in the event and hosting such activity is Charnvit’s exercise of his personal rights. |
22 | 18-Apr-15 | Intervention | Training “Mushroom Making Millions” | Anon San-Nan, Ex-Secretariat of Assembly of Red Shirt Villages for Democracy of Thailand and Director of Moobanhed Farm) | Udon Thani | More than 20 authorities observe the activity. They try asking the participants if any red shirt people are joining, and for names and telephone numbers of the participants. After the event finishes, officers give a call to ask about Anon too. |
23 | 23-Apr-15 | Restriction | “Bangsaen Rama Film Festival 2015” | Students from Department of Films and Television, Burapha University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Science | Chonburi | Military officers notice the promotional banners, then contact the teacher saying that the students have yet requested for permission from soldiers and the provincial culture office to host the event. As a result, the students’ self-censorship is partially made and they must send all the films to the military authorities to screen. Later, the soldiers ask to abandon the activity due to national security. |
24 | 26-Apr-15 | Restriction | Opening the Nuamthong Praiwan Meeting Room | Heroes of Democracy Foundation | Bangkok | Officers request to delay the date of the event because the organizers do not ask for permission to host the event. At the same time, Nuamthong is listed as one of political symbols and his name becomes dangerous to the NCPO’s order no. 3/2015 according to Article 44. |
25 | 26-Apr-15 | Restriction | Public Seminar “Field Marshall Sarit and Legacy of the Development Era” | Thammasat University Student Union (TUSU) and League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) | Bangkok | The first reason is the university does not allow using its venue without a permit from the NCPO and the NCPO takes too long to issuing. The second reason is though the date is postponed, on 24 April the organizer is given notices to change the topic and content of the seminar to keep the event running. |
26 | 1-May-15 | Intervention | Protesting for workers’ rights on Labor Day | Worker Solidarity Association (WSA), Migrant Workers Federation (MWF), Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN), Industries Garment Relation Labour Union (IQRU), Trade Union in Electronics and Electronical Equipment Relation (TUEEER), and Gems and Jewelry Trade Union Relations (GJTUR) | Chiang Mai | Previously, the worker groups send a petition to the army for the rally. However, the military see that the subject is too risky so they ask to decrease the number of people who will join the protest in submitting their request from 100 to 30 persons. |
27 | 7-May-15 | Restriction | Seminar “Press in a Reforming Situation” | Matichon Publishing Group | Bangkok | |
28 | 7-May-15 | Intervention | Academic Seminar “EIA Na Moon: The Injustice of Land Based Petroleum in Isan” | Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Mahasarakham University | Mahasarakham | Before starting the activity, officers have three conditions: one is do not criticize the NCPO government’s performance, two is do not display any symbolic opposition, and three is military and police authorities must be invited to attend the seminar. This results in more than 30 uniformed and undercover officers join the activity. Moreover, it reports that on 6 May 2015 military authorities conduct search throughout the auditorium too. |
29 | 17-May-15 | Restriction | Commemorating the democratic uprising of May 1992 | Heroes of Democracy Foundation | Bangkok | Before hosting the commemoration, soldiers overrun the foundation and ask to abandon the talk. However, the foundation insists on carrying out. On the date of the event, military officers, led by Pilot Officer Chalat Worachat, request the activity to be called off. |
30 | 19-May-15 | Restriction | “Arts of the Next Life’s first session: Satire of Short-Long Lasting Arts” | A group of Arts students | Chiang Mai | Policemen talk to the venue’s officers in details and request the students to abandon the activity. |
31 | 21-May-15 | Intervention | Submitting a letter to Embassy of Japan in the case of Resistant Citizen suing Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and his group | Resistant Citizen | Bangkok | The activity’s leaders are detained by undercover police and are brought to Lumpini Police Station for putting on police’s record. No charges are filed. |
32 | 21-May-15 | Intervention | Reading the declaration “Petroleum Dictatorship” | Neo E-Saan Movement | Khon Kaen | Several Neo E-Saan Movement members, who distribute papers of declaration at the Democracy Monument and are captured by 10 undercover soldiers, three uniformed military officers and military polices, ask about conducting the activity. The soldiers then reply that “Displaying symbolic expression is forbidden and those who create disharmony will be arrested under Article 44.” |
33 | 22-May-15 | Intervention | Declaring “One Year After the Shameful Coup” as the seminar “22-22: Community Rights, Freedom and Education” which is planned to be hosted on occasion of the coup’s one-year anniversary is postponed by the army | Young People for Social-Democracy Movement, Thailand (YPD) | Bangkok | After reading the declaration for 15 minutes, policemen from Chana Songkram Police Station bring 11 of the activity’s organizers to report at the station. They are not accused of any charges but their names are recorded. |
34 | 22-May-15 | Intervention | Creating symbolic arts in the activity “One Year that….” To express thoughts throughout one year after the coup | A group of students from the Facebook Fan Page called Celebrate on the 22nd May | Bangkok | Policemen surround and detain the students before releasing them without any charges notified but making copies of their ID Cards. |
35 | 22-May-15 | Restriction | Seminar “22-22: Community Rights, Liberty, Education” | Young People for Social-Democracy Movement, Thailand (YPD) | Bangkok | Soldiers order the revocation for the seminar. |
36 | 22-May-15 | Intervention | Holding an anti-coup banner | Dao Din Group | Khon Kaen | Students and officers from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) are brought to the 23rd Military Circle by military and police officers and are charged with violating the NCPO’s Order No.7/2014. |
37 | 22-May-15 | Intervention | Protesting Thailand Premier League | Sukhothai Football Club Fans | Sukhothai | The fans protest symbolically against Thai Premiere League Company or “TPL” because it unfairly judges Sukhothai Football Club to lose. |
38 | 23-May-15 | Intervention | “75 Years Past and the Future of Niti Eawsriwong” | Faculty of Humanities’ Division of Japanese of Chiang Mai University together with We the Equal Citizen | Chiang Mai | Authorities from the army telephone to the event’s planners since they are concerned that the activity is being held near the first anniversary of the 22 May 2014 Coup also there is a rumor that a number of Red Shirt supports are recruited to join the event. |
39 | 4-Jun-15 | Restriction | Public forum to launch a report “Human Rights One Year after the 2014 Coup” | Thai Lawyers for Human Rights | Bangkok | FCCT state that the army does not permit TLHR to use the location. Later, uniformed and undercover officers arrive FCCT to ask to break up the meeting, unless they will occupy the building’s entrance. |
40 | 5-Jun-15 | Restriction | Training and discussing politics | A Red Shirt NGO in Southern Thailand | Phang Nga | The seminar is a closed event which has Sirote and Anusorn as lecturers. Yet officers hear about it and they join the event. Eventually, the activity has to be cancelled on its last day. |
41 | 13-Jun-15 | Intervention | Meeting about arable land | Lopburi Community Learning Center, Nong Yai To Sub-district, Chai Badan District, Lopburi Province | Lopburi | Soldiers order the participant to stay in the meeting room and inquire who is the leader because such event is violation of the NCPO’s order on gathering more than four persons. |
42 | 17-Jun-15 | Restriction | Seminar “Article 112: Its Role in Thai Society” | Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) | Bangkok | Policemen claim that they receive an order, informally, from the NCPO to cancel the seminar as it talks about Article 112 which will incite the disharmony to occur. |
43 | 18-Jun-15 | Restriction | Public forum “Citizens of the Referendum: Voices of People from Ayutthaya” | Citizens of the Referendum | Ayutthaya | Military authorities request to call off the activity because it concerns the province’s security. |
44 | 26-Jun-15 | Restriction | Media advisory of the report “Vietnam: End “Evil Way” Persecution of Montagnard Christians” | Human Rights Watch (HRW) | Bangkok | The police give a call for cooperation on one day before the event, but the organizers require them a written request to call off the activity. Then on the day of the event, policemen ask FCCT to cancel the venue rental but FCCT also asks for a formal letter. Anyhow, HRW itself later cancels the occasion. For the details, in the police record writes that HRW’s report is dangerous to Thailand and Vietnam’s relationship. |
45 | 27-Jun-15 | Intervention | Seminar of underground activity’s first session “What do We do with The Thai Constitution?” lectured by Niran Patharakit, Poonthep Sirinupong, and Wichot Wanno | Ramkhamhaeng University’s DSRU01 and Association of Ramkhamhaeng University Activist Students for Society | Bangkok | About 3-4 days before the event, military authorities arrive to take photos and on the night before, they give a call to abandon the activity. On the event’s day, soldiers come to talk but the negotiation results in the seminar being able to be held, yet its declaration needs to be examined. |
46 | 4-Jul-15 | Intervention | Academic seminar “Gender & LGBTIQs” | Chiang Mai | Officers of the venue request to cancel the seminar, though it is permitted. Later, soldiers come to observe and state that if the content is dangerous, then the event will be shut down immediately. | |
47 | 6-Jul-15 | Intervention | Hosting a symbolic expression event “The Wings of Freedom” to encourage the fourteen activist students of the New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Dinsorsee | Bangkok | Policemen from Samranrat Police Station talk to the generator’s owner and ask about what is happening. They also inquire if the request letter is submitted. After, the owner and his generator are brought to the police station. This results in electricity for the event stops momentarily. |
48 | 14-Jul-15 | Restriction | Lecture about Thailand’s political development | Students from Goethe University Frankfurt | Germany | The lecture is conducted by Pavin and is cancelled a few minutes before when it is scheduled, explaining that the Thai Consulate threatens to withdraw funding to the university. |
49 | 6-Aug-15 | Intervention | Protesting against moving Khon Kaen bus terminal 1 | The Khon Kaen’s Save Bus Station | Khon Kaen | During the protest, officers from Volunteer Defense Corps and the army are there to control the situation. While the leaders are talking on speakers about effects of moving the bus terminal, Col. Jatupol Bokbon, Khon Kaen’s Deputy Chief of Internal Security Operations Command, seizes the speaker and speak furiously |
“Moving the bus terminal is processing step by step and we listen to feedback throughout five years. Those who opposes must send their representatives to talk. The security forces disagree to protesting and I can exercise Article 44 to arrest.” /// Charges are made later. | ||||||
50 | 6-Aug-15 | Intervention | About 140 Villagers from various sub-districts who attend the community organization council’s meeting, according to the Community Organization Council Act 2008. | Nong Khai | ||
51 | 7-Aug-15 | Intervention | World of Activity Exhibition to recruit new students | Pathum Thani | While exhibiting the activity’s booths, uniformed and undercover police come to observe. One in the uniform reveals that he is employed at Khlong Luang Police Station in Pathum Thani and is ordered to examine and take photos of LLTD’s booths. This makes the organizers become afraid that it will concern students who wish to register as new members. | |
52 | 9-Aug-15 | Intervention | “Prison Talk: First Session, Sansern Sriunruen and Torture Under the Coup” | Maledprix | Bangkok | Before the talk starts, police officers negotiate to cancel the activity and bring metal fences to encircle the venue. However after the negotiation, the police allow the event to continue but forbid using speakers and talking about politics. |
53 | 28-Aug-15 | Intervention | Environmental Youth Camp “Hak Ban Hao” (love one’s village) | Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) | Loei | The Public Assembly Act |
54 | 5-Sep-15 | Restriction | Seminar “Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plant on Community and National Resources in Pharlain, Mon State, Myanmar” | Foundation for Ecological Recovery | Bangkok | The cancellation is announced on Facebook without any explanation from authorities. |
55 | 6-Sep-15 | Restriction | Media advisory to exchange ideas with press about the draft constitution | United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) | Bangkok | The permission to host the event is not given as it may create confusion and affect procedures of unity building and maintaining order. |
56 | 6-Sep-15 | Restriction | Seminar “the Life of Narin: a Perverse Man” | The Santi Pracha Dhamma Library | Bangkok | On the day before the event, policemen from Samrae Police Station sends a letter about hosting the seminar to President of Sthirakoses-Nagapradjpa Foundation. Later, they ask to call off because the content is illegal. One the day after the event, the policemen and undercover soldiers arrive to the library at 1 p.m. to ask to cancel the seminar. The organizers comply. |
57 | 19-Sep-15 | Intervention | “Nine Years Have Passed Since the 19 September Coup, the Coup Remains” | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | On 17 September Thammasat students request to use Prakob Hutasingh Meeting Room as a venue, the day later the Thai Army Region 1 sends a letter to the university for the meeting room cancellation. The students then instead move to the lecture to a meeting room of Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology’s Postgraduate Program. |
58 | 4-Oct-15 | Intervention | “Know the Dictatorship the Series EP. 1: Military Government’s Mindset and Methods towards its Opposition” | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Authorities ask to change the discussion’s topic to “Communication on Social Media in IT World” because the original one is dangerous and may affect the government or the NCPO. |
59 | 31-Oct-15 | Intervention | “In Remembrance of Nuamthong Praiwan who Collided with the Army” | Resistant Citizen | Bangkok | Officers allow hosting the activity in front of the Royal Thai Army Headquarter for half an hour. At the same time, Anon Numpa, one of the organizers, is fined 200 baht with the Public Assembly Act for using speakers without permission. |
60 | 13-Nov-15 | Intervention | “From Bang Khen Field to Ratchadamnoen: Kasetsart and Thai Politics” | Liberal Kasetsart University Group, and New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Before conducting the activity, the organizers contact the university for the venue usage and receive permission from the Student Council. However, the Student Affair Division does not because, according to its new rule, the group must coordinate the division before contacting the council. The university then has its employees collect its seating and cut electricity used in the venue. Moreover, uniformed authorities come to talk to the organizers during the activity and ask them to abandon, presenting the Public Assembly Act and saying that it might be illegal. Eventually, the event continues as people sit on the floor. |
61 | 21-Nov-15 | Intervention | Exhibition “Military’s National Corruption” | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Authorities request to out away some of the exhibiting banners. Moreover, about 6.40 p.m. electricity in the auditorium is cut, resulting in the organizing leading the activity to outside of the auditorium. |
62 | 6-Dec-15 | Intervention | “Ratchapakdi Park’s Corruption Expose” | Democracy Study | Bangkok | Authorities ask Sirawich to call of the activity on 5 December. He does not comply, then the officers pressure his mother who says she cannot contact her son. On the next day, Sirawich travels to Hua Hin as planned and condemns the authorities for their threat to his mother. However, he is detained at Ban Pong Railway Station, Ratchaburi. No charge is made. |
63 | 8-Dec-15 | Restriction | Media advisory of the event on 7 December 2015 | Sirawich Serithiwat | Bangkok | Sirawich appoints the press for media advisory of the event on 7 December 2015. Yet when the event starts, officers from police forces and the university “ask for cooperation” from him not to carry on. They reason that the permission is not granted from the university, instead they request to change to interview. After the event continues for a while, the police ask to abandon the media advisory. |
64 | 10-Dec-15 | Intervention | “E-Saan’s Land Tremble” | Neo E-Saan Movement | Khon Kaen | The venue is changed. |
65 | 11-Dec-15 | Restriction | Stone Free | Stone Music Festival | Saraburi | |
66 | 23-Dec-15 | Restriction | Campaigning to push the government to carry out community title deeds and Land Bank, stop the forestry master plan, and review national park announcement which overlays communities | P-Move | Chiang Mai | During the talking, military officers distribute copies of the Public Assembly Act to the participants. They notify the network that they do not wish the activity to continue, and state that the event on the previous day was dangerous may violate the Act. However, no charge is made. |
3. Table of Restriction and Intervention in Public Activities in 2016
Number | Date | Type | Name of Activity | Organizer | Location | Remark |
1 | 2-Feb-16 | Restriction | A Thai Northeast Folk Music Show | Siang E-San (Sound of E-San) | Prachinburi | The permission to hosting the event is not granted and no details are found on the Facebook page) |
2 | 5-Feb-16 | Restriction | “Can the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) Draft Constitution Truly Reform?” | National Institution of Development Administration (NIDA)’s Faculty of Law, School of Social and Environmental Development, and Nida Poll | Bangkok | Soldiers in charge of the Bang Kapi District do not allow hosting the event without any reasons given. |
3 | 13-Feb-16 | Restriction | Seminar ”Patani Peace: Why Must People?” | The Federation of Patani Student and Youth (PerMAS) | Yala | National security officers summon the organizers for a talk. They explain that according to the government, the term “Right to Self-Determination” is illegal because it contains a hidden agenda to separate the country. So, they offer two options. One is that the event is postponed and authorities jointly choose whom to be panelists. Two is that the event is cancelled. This results in the activity being abandoned. |
4 | 13-Feb-16 | Restriction | “The Draft Constitution and People’s Participation” | We Move to Reform | Amnat Charoen | Soldiers observe, record videos, and take photos before demanding the event to stop and giving the group five minutes to pack, claiming it is an order from the governor. |
5 | 24-Feb-16 | Intervention | Declaring a statement “A call to revoke the Orders of the NCPO no. 3/2016 and 4/2016 on the Special Economic Zones and City Plan” | People’s Network for Sustainable Development | Bangkok | According to Article 44 of the interim constitution, the NCPO’s order no. 3 and 4 of 2015 are recognized as law. Consequently, protesting to abandon the order is against of the public administration of the government. |
6 | 28-Feb-16 | Intervention | Seminar “New Constitution: what should we do?” | Prachamati.org | Bangkok | Soldiers from the First Cavalry Division of the King’s Guard together with policemen from Pathumwan Police Station telephone and send a letter to Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre (BACC) informing that the event may be considered as a political gathering (according to order no.3/2015) and permission must be given before hosting. Yet after the organizers submit a request letter, the military do not review it in time. This results in BACC’s venue cancellation. The organizers then have to film a public forum at Thai PBS instead. |
7 | 28-Feb-16 | Intervention | Hosting a PetchaKucah event on the topic “Constitution” | Prachamati.org | Bangkok | Military officers from the First Cavalry Division of the King’s Guard and police officers from Pathumwan Police Station give a call and a letter to the organizers that the event may be regarded as a political gathering, according to order no.3/2015, and they need permission for hosting such event. When the organizers hand in an explanation letter, soldiers take too long to examine, causing BACC to call off the venue usage. Instead, the organizers move the event to Tha Pra Chan Campus of Thammasat University. |
8 | 1-Mar-16 | Intervention | Exhibition “Wonders of Freedom” | Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) | Bangkok | Authorities remove the exhibition on the restroom because high-ranking officers feel uncomfortable and summon the organizers to speak with. After the event, a symbolic expression is performed outside the venue. |
9 | 19-Mar-16 | Intervention | Hosting a standing still activity to release Watana Muangsook | Resistant Citizen | Bangkok | |
10 | 3-Apr-16 | Intervention | Seminar “Read the Constitution as Fiction and Arts” | Book Re:public | Chiang Mai | Soldiers from Military Circle 33 (Kawila Camp) give a call to the bookstore for a request letter, claiming that it is the army’s order. Once the book shop sends the document for notice, they reply that they do not permit hosting the event. Book Re:public then call off the activity. However, the seminar is moved to Department of Sociology and Anthropology’s Graduate School at Chiang Mai University where it offers to host publicly. The soldiers coordinate with the university’s Office of President and ask for cooperation not to arrange the seminar. The bookstore also gives more information that during the preparation as previously scheduled, there are undercover officers who come to observe from outside its place. (The book shop asks not to be in news and publish only Facebook content with Prachatai.) |
11 | 7-Apr-16 | Intervention | Seminar on consideration for approval of the draft constitution before the referendum | Citizen Forum | Bangkok | Suan Dusit University cancels the seminar as it is afraid that it may be a political gathering. The organizers then change the venue to Thai Volunteer Service Foundation. |
12 | 25-Apr-16 | Intervention | Thammasat University’s Political Exhibition | Thammasat University Student Union (TUSU) and Thammasat University’s Political Exhibition Project | Pathum Thani | The event is not cancelled but is asked to put banners away. Yet students manage to stick them back. |
13 | 28-May-16 | Restriction | “Read Harit’s Starless Night” | Friends of Harit Mahaton | Bangkok | On one day before the event, authorities threaten the group by saying that they have arrested many people for hosting such activity and demand that the group goes to Phayathai Police Station for the permission. When the group arrives the police station, the police do not make sense of the situation, causing the event to be postponed for the organizers’ and the venue’s safety. |
14 | 14-Jun-16 | Restriction | Campaigning by distributing leaflets | The Liberal KU | Bangkok | |
15 | 19-Jun-16 | Intervention | Seminar “The Draft Constitution and the Referendum” | Association of Ramkhamhaeng University Activist Students for Society | Bangkok | |
16 | 19-Jun-16 | Restriction | Media advisory for Referendum Fraud Investigation Centers | United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) | Bangkok | |
17 | 22-Jun-16 | Intervention | “Politics in Religion” | Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) | Bangkok | Before the talk, officers ask for cooperation to cancel the event. Yet, FFCT insists on hosting and the event runs untroubledly. |
18 | 23-Jun-16 | Intervention | Campaigning by distributing documents to promote people to exercise their voting rights outside the district of permanent residence and vote no | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Thirteen activists are arrested under the Referendum Act 2016. |
19 | 23-Jun-16 | Restriction | Press Conference on “Recommendations to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to address Rohingya Refugees and Human Trafficking Survivors in Myanmar and Thailand” | Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Persons (CRSP) and Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) | Bangkok | |
20 | 24-Jun-16 | Restriction | “Clean up Democracy” | The Liberal KU and New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Seven activists are charged with political gathering of more than five people, gathering without advance notices, and probably under the Referendum Act 2016. |
21 | 23-Jun-16 | Restriction | Distributing leaflets to campaign for “Vote NO” and the registration process to vote outside the constituency. | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | Thirteen activists are arrested under the Referendum Act 2016. |
22 | 27-Jun-16 | Restriction | Campaigning to free anti-referendum activists | New Democracy Movement (NDM) | Bangkok | |
23 | 15-Jul-16 | Restriction | Hosting an event to advocate the Constitution among Catholics | Bangkok | Policemen meet with the host and say that permission must be granted before organizing the event. The activity is cancelled as a result. | |
24 | 31-Jul-16 | Restriction | “Speak for Freedom, Constitution and E-San People” | New Democracy Movement (NDM) and New Generation Citizen (NGC) | Khon Kaen | |
25 | 1-Aug-16 | Restriction | “Three Nos for the Referendum” | The Midnight University | Chiang Mai | |
26 | 2-Aug-16 | Restriction | “A Free and Fair Constitutional Referendum and its Implication for the Future of Thai Democracy” | Faculty of Political Science, Ubon Ratchathani University | Ubon Ratchathani | |
27 | 21-Sep-16 | Restriction | “Peacefulness of the South and Peace of Patani Equals Peacefulness of Thailand or Peace of the World” | Pattani | The permission is not given by the authorities. Before announcing the event’s cancellation, the negotiation between the organizers and the law enforcement officers are intensive. The officers insist that not only the organizers must coordinate with village headmen or chief executives of the SAO in the area, but also the approval must be granted from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and the provincial authority. | |
28 | 19-Sep-16 | Restriction | “Sing for the Uncle” on the occasion of the ten-year anniversary of the 2016 coup | Alek Chokerompruek | Bangkok | Policemen assert that according to the NCPO’s order no. 3/2015 and the Public Assembly Act, hosting such activity is forbidden and ask all the artists to leave the area. Every of them agrees and follow the order immediately. |
29 | 28-Sep-16 | Restriction | Media advisory of a report on torture in Thailand during 2014-2015 | Amnesty International Thailand (AI) | Bangkok | Authorities from Labour Ministry claims that the speakers have no work permits and may be arrested if they give a speech. |
30 | 9-Nov-16 | Restriction | Screening the film “White Shadow” | Students and Amnesty International Thailand (AI) | Khon Kaen | Faculty of Humanities’ Associate Dean from Khon Kaen University calls off the screening, though the military allows. |
31 | 26-Nov-16 | Restriction | Youth rights public forum’s 2nd session “Thailand’s Step Forward which Youth must Take Part in” | Thailand Youth Activist Network | Bangkok | Siam Discovery cancels the property use request. |
32 | 12-Dec-16 | Restriction | “Solution of Bhuddhist crisis for love and harmony in the situation which authorities may use legal enforcement and violence to monks, Buddhists and in temples” | Buddhist Leaders Committee | Bangkok | Military officers ask to cancel the activity because there is no written request to the authorities for this joint seminar, so the army is afraid that it may violate the NCPO’s order in gathering more than five persons. |