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Let peace and
justice reign in Southern Thailand
Justice for all the Victims of the Narathiwat Massacre now!
November 3 Press Statement for the Thai Consulate Rally
We as organizations and individuals who value and advocate
justice, human rights and peace strongly condemn the inhuman
treatment and killing of 85 people many of whom were Muslims,
in Narathiwat Province, Southern Thailand in October 25.
From direct physical assaults to indiscriminate firing of
guns at protesters and enclosing the victims inside army trucks
that possibly have led to their suffocation and death, these
murderous and inhuman actions of the military smack at the
Thaksin government’s fascism and direct brutality.
Furthermore, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra’s
statements on the said events were irresponsible, injurious
and biased. His public apology for recklessly commenting on
the Muslim’s tradition of the Ramadan as the cause of
those who died inside the military trucks is not enough. Even
the reported 100,000 Baht compensation given by PM Thaksin
for the victim’s families is not enough. His words and
measly compensation will not spell justice to the dead.
Using brute force and fascism on the protesters in front
of the police station in Narathiwat did not address but rather
evaded and muffled the reasons for the unrest. They, mostly
young men and unarmed, trooped to the police station to protest
a previous arrest of six village volunteers suspected of supporting
armed Islamic militants.
It was a legitimate and rightful action, an expression of
their right to assemble, turned into an atrocious and bloody
nightmare caused by the military themselves.
Adding to this criminal act of the government and the military
is the arrest of 1,300 other people. Recently, it was reported
that most of the detained protesters were released. However,
189 people remain in jail and are uncertain of release.
The inhuman crackdown on the people’s dissent is then
denounced in the strongest sense. We demand that:
a. An independent commission under the supervision of an
International body such as the United Nations Commissioner
of Human Rights should be created to lead the inquiry and
investigation of the tragedy. The Thai government now in question
should allow such an independent and impartial body to proceed
with the investigation without fear of persecution or assault.
b. Prosecute those responsible to the brutal crime and human
rights violations
c. The immediate withdrawal of all military troops in the
area.
d. The unconditional release of the remaining 189 arrested
persons and detained since October 25.
e. PM Thaksin should step down immediately and take full
responsibility on the Narathiwat massacre.
Human rights are to be upheld, not violated. Those having
them protected, not killed.
We gather here today standing for and demanding justice.
We shall support all initiatives to provide justice to the
victims. Our hands and our hearts are up for the people of
Thailand who wish nothing more than what we wish for: a country
free of fear and violence, and peace that is based on justice.
Signatories:
Asian Students Association (ASA)
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Thai Regional Alliance (TRA)
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK)
Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia di HK (ATKI-HK)
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society
Migrante Sectoral Party Hong Kong
Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW)
Friends of Bethune House (FBH)
Fung Ka Keung
Chura Bahadur Thapa
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