One hundred anti-mine activists show up for ‘attitude adjustment’ in Udon Thani
UDON THANI – Today, one hundred activists in a local environmental group opposing a new potash-mining project in Udon Thani showed up at the city’s Prajak Silpakhom military camp for “attitude adjustment.”
Officers of the 23rd Military Circle Command had summoned six members of the Udon Thani Environment Conservation Group by phone to attend an “attitude adjustment” session at the Prajak Silpakhom military camp, according to a report by the Thai Lawyers For Human Rights Center.
The summons for “attitude adjustment” followed an anti-mine protest on February 7 in which activists had read out a statement including the phrase “may the dictatorship be destroyed,” which prompted the military to take action.
The Udon Thani Environment Conservation Group was summoned by the military following their February 7 protest of a new potash mining project in Prachaksinlapakhom District. Photo credit: Thai Lawyers For Human Rights Center
During the protest, about 200 activists of the environmental group led a traditional long-drum procession through the city to express their opposition to the potash mine project. The activists distributed leaflets to bystanders and carried protest signs calling on the government to intervene.
Military and police officers took photos and videos of the activists and attempted to confiscate the protest signs. But the procession was allowed to proceed to the Prince of Prajak Silapakhom Monument in the city center, where the activists read out their statement criticizing the state’s development policy and demanding for respect of community rights.
Today at 9:00 am, about 100 village supporters of the Udon Thani Environment Conservation Group gathered in front of the Prajak Silpakhom military camp and demanded to be allowed to enter the premises.
After negotiating with the military command, nine representatives of the group entered the military camp, while the crowd of villagers – which had swelled to over one hundred – waited outside.
Military officers told the nine representatives that their protest movement was not banned, but asked them to refrain from using slogans that included the word “dictatorship” because this could anger high-ranking military members.
After the talk ended, the nine activists agreed to provide their home address and have a group photo taken with the military officers.
Before the crowd of village protesters left the area in front of the camp, military personnel distributed blankets in a move to appease the villagers.
Sisters of Isan displays Isan (the northeastern part of Thailand)’s value and their construction at the beginning of the 20th century together with Thailand as a modern state. The book has recorded the stories of two sisters growing up and working from the countryside to Bangkok. At the same time, the book shows the perspectives of Isan people through their belief, lifestyle, culture, social norm, value and fate. This book covers the changes by over 50 years of Isan workers and Thailand. Hence, beyond two sisters who had shifted from rural to urban landscape, the stories inside reflect how Thai society has come. The struggle is not something Isan people choose, whereas, reading this book may imply the answer. Sisters of Isan is not just a book. This infers lives… the Isan’s lives.
The atmosphere of the general election today in the Northeast was bustling. Even in areas where it rained, voters still showed up to exercise their rights.
A team of local artists have proposed a design for a memorial commemorating the “Holy Man Rebellion” in Ubon Ratchathani province. They want to promote the area to become a historical tourist destination and symbolize a kind of a public apology to those slaughtered.
Media of the margins join hands to build bridges through their effects that lead to increased understanding and reduced conflicts in society. A former TV anchor of Thairath says the media can serve as a bridge that connects people with different opinions. The Editors of local media outlets, as well as the alternative media, Prachatai, in Bangkok, speak out about their roles and hopes for a better Thailand
