Paintings and photos exhibition from a ceremony to confer “Human Rights Media Awards 2021”

People and The Forest: disjunction of Bangkloi Karen indigenous group

The situation in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Petchaburi province became intense again in early 2021 after the Bangkloi Karen group decided to walk back to the upper Bangkloi, Jai Pandin, the location where they have been living there for many generations. The location is where they lived with shifting cultivation. The incident occurred after the Bangkloi group reached their home, officials chased away all Bangkloi people off from the location, insisting that they have no rights to live there in Jai Pan Din or the Heart of the Land. However, this is only a part of the bigger picture of invasion, demolishing, forced relocation, and assimilation of indigenous groups all over the country. 

Ordinary people “Din Daeng battlefield” revenge, rebel, The Thalugaz

Since August 2021, a significant situation that has attracted attention and questions is the gathering of protesters against authorities at Din Daeng intersection. Many people from pro-democratic side questioned their methodology and action. However, there questions continue to stigmatize towards to Thalugaz group, and separate them from the bigger movement of pro-democratic demonstration against Prayuth’s government. Thought the truth is the youth group that chooses to express in this way are the people who directly effecting of the government’s management.

The loss of the winner, Klity Creek after the sentence, the water still contaminated

“Klity village” at Chalae subdistrict, Thongphaphum district, Kanchanaburi province, appearance to the public in 1998 when the villagers protested to the Pollution Control Department to investigate the contamination of lead in the creek. This came after the chain of death of their livestock, the water in the creek had a bad smell, the villagers became sick without a solid cause such as headache, optic nerve broke down, the new born baby found a dysfunctional brain of their development. These are the lost that could not take back.

“We don’t know how tomorrow will be”: Covid-19 caused thousands of refugees in Thailand stuck in Thailand

The situation of Covid-19 has caused a lot of problems for urban refugees. Originally, they have to live illegally, hiding from the officials. With Covid-19, the relocation has been postponed without any milestone to look forward to. They are being restricted not to travel outside the allocated area, except if they have permission letter, and they are at risk to called of work which causes financial problem. All of these led to the risk of being sent back to the origin location and being exploited by the officials. The refugees then have to hide out in Bangkok without any clues on what will happen to their lives tomorrow.

I want to go back home because the only home for us is Jai Pan Dai (Heart of the Land)

For 25 years, Bangkloi people haven’t asked for many things. They just want nutritious food, just rice and chili sauce. They just want to live in a location where they feel comfortable and clean air. They just want to go back to their original homeland, Jai Pan Din (The Heart of the Land). For 25 years that Bangkloi people were forced to relocate to Ban Pong Luk which was “invited” by the Kaeng Krachan National Park officials. They faced a lot of obstacles, living in non-nutritious soil, and could not plant anything.

Legal harassment of children. Child Rights in political legal case

Since the protest of pro-democratic groups happening in the middle of 2020, there have been loads of accusations to children and youth on the rights to freedom of expression. Laws such as Emergency decree, sedition, Lèse-majesté, even though Thailand have ratified the on Rights of the Child, which should reflect from the best interest of the child, including the rights to participate and the rights to feel safe. There are 2 youths with gender diversity facing series of harassment, for example, being asked about their gender, being detained during court investigation, and the process of making them “repent” without judicial process. All of these reduces the voices of children human rights defenders.

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WANCHALEARM DISAPPEARANCE: NO UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION, 

NO IDEA OF WHAT’S HAPPENING, FOUNDING MORE EVIDENCE IN CAMBODIA.

On Thursday, 4 June 2020 “Sok Hong” or “Wanchalearm Satsaksit” which at that time was 37 disappeared while refuging in Cambodia. Family, friends, human rights organizations, and the United Nations believed that Wanchalearm was kidnapped by a unrecognized group in the evening after he bought some food outside of the “Mekong Garden” building. His face and eye glasses being used in the campaigning signs from the pro-democratic protests since July 2020 requesting the investigation of his disappearances.

Heart of the mother: 112 and the collapse of family

A story of an accused person on Lèse-majesté through the eyes of Siwaporn and Tok, mother and son who faced severe effects from the enforcement of article 112. Their family collapsed. This became a question of the so-called “justice” after being kept in a military unit around oneweek, under martial of the NCPO’s coup d'état. Siwaporn Panya, being prosecuted with article 112 regarding the case of “Ban Pot”. The punishment is 10 years. However, with her confession, the number of the year was reduced to 5 years. She detained the prison for a total of 4 years and 3 months. She was set free in May 2019. For Siwaporn, coming out of the prison, she lost many things, thought, it doesn’t make her loss hope. Currently, she is starting her own business with the hope that the benefits from the business will be cascaded to other people who face judicial harassment on political cases.

Uncle Don Ketpuak: Media- Ordinary People-Democracy when a Life Dedicated for the People

Uncle Don Ketpuak, the ordinary people who shaped pro-democratic media. Everyday, he will do a livestreaming in different locations such as the court, attorney, protest area, especially in a location where there is a lack of media attention. He worked without any command from anyone. His livestream became a hope of the people who want to receive messages from the news that is original, not being shaped by any authorities. His livestream reflects hopes for justice as where he wants the society to see the truth.

Three Mother of Ratsadon leaders, joining in the rally of Thalufah, requesting for the abolishment of article 112

Sureerat Chiwarak, 51 years old mom of Parit Chiwarak or Penguin, Yupin Maneewong, mother of Panupong Jadnok or Mike, and Prim Boonpatraksa, mother of Jatupat Boonpaksaksa or “Pai Dao Din”. The three young men leading the political activism of the youth requesting for democracy and freedom of the people and the reformation of the monarchy. Even though the moms are supporting their sons behind the scenes, Sureerat and Yupin do not shown much in public because of work conditions and family conditions. However, when their sons are being harassed with legal harassment, threemothers decided to join the movement of “Ratsadon” group, of which their sons are the co-founder.

Red's scar

Somsak Prasansap is one of the defendants accused of burning the Ubonratchatani city hall in 2021 after the red shirt protest crackdown in Bangkok. He insisted on his innocent, still he was put in charge. He was sentenced with imprisonment, then got reduced to 33 years and 4 months. Then he was released after the imprisonment for around 7 years.

“Yaowarat alley, “Kon Jon Mueng” or “The Poor Urbanize People” from ThaiPBS

At night, Yaowarat will transform itself from a community of Chinese people, the heart of a financial institution, gold shop, restaurant, and street food became the destination of worldwide travel. Behind the scene of the flourish road, there is a group of Thai people living there. The living conditions are far from the normal condition of a “house”. They drive the community that is growing soundlessly. “Mai Uncle” is a reflection of migrant workers and the homeless people who don’t have any guarantee as Thai citizens. They just do everything to be alive in this big city that is changing through time. These small groups of people became “invisible” and there is no way they could bring themselves out of the condition of being the urban poor because of the economic structure that never took them into account.

Mani-Jahai, life on the line from Perd Pom television program from ThaiPBS

Even though the Ministry of Interior guarantees that Mani-Jahai people who have lived in this land before the establishment of the nation state, have rights to be Thai citizens, however, these groups of people are missing out on these rights and being challenged in many ways to conserve their traditional lifestyle. The population of both groups, Mani and Jahai being separated from welfare system and the support from the government. Even with their 13 numbers of citizen IDs.

Untied the knot “Human Escaping Death”. Perd Pom Television Program from ThaiPBS

Information from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNCHR indicate that there are refugee and asylum seeker in the urban area for around 5,000 people from 40 countries around the word living in Bangkok and the nearby areas. Thailand has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, addition to it not have a law to even define the word “refugee” in domestic law; therefore, the refugees have to compellingly adhere to the Immigration law. Under this condition, the refugee could be arrested, imprisoned, and forced to leave the country any time. In 2019, The Royal Thai Government approved a regulation with the aim to establish a national screening mechanism to manage “aliens” who cannot return to their country of domicile. However, up until today, this law is enforced in practical uses because there is no draft of implementation guidelines. 

Child service is not inclusive, documentary Tang Ton television program from PPTV HD 26

The problem of the poor families that have small children and the problem of 600 THB funding support to take care of newborn baby aged 0-6 years, are not being delivered to all families. The indicators to screen the benefited stakeholders that are complex and difficult which making them excluded from the welfare that they deserve. 

“The importance of the drafts of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances Act” Column in Daily News

For 10 years of fighting for justice, on 16 September 2021, the members of parliaments voted to agree to the proposed bill. Mrs. Angkhana Neelapaijit express her concern that Thailand do not have a law that specifically tackle the problem of torture and enforced disappearances. We only have the law on crime of abuse or injury, which do not cover the torture methodologies which includes mental wound. For enforced disappearances, there is also no specific law that tackles this problem. The law is covering only murder or imprisonment. Therefore, without the law, the wrongdoer, which sometimes is the government officials, will not be punished,create a culture of impunity, and affect the rights to justice of the victim.

“Vaccine for citizen’s immunity” from Workpoint

Youth and society increasing giving interest in stop torture and enforced disappearances, as they are movements from many groups, as well as a solid action in the parliament. By addressing 4 issues in 4 episodes of documentary news, people able to understand the principle of the drafts, and aware of the need of the laws to protect civil rights.

A list of documentaries “the effects on Karen indigenous from the battlefield in Maehongson-Myanmar, PPTV HD 36

Access to rights, humanitarian support of Karen indigenous group that fled from the war in Myanmar to Tah Ta Fung, Sobmei district, Maehongson province, which many people walk to the Salawin river after Myanmar troops attacked by the air around the Day Pu No base of Karen National Union which the refugee more than 2000 people have no access to medicine, food, and basic utilities that human should receive. We found information that the Thai state, as the destination of the Karen group, has no systematic way of handling and taking care of them.

Photo by Mr. Suppanut Rattanathanaprasan

“What’s your Grandma Doing?” Said the Innocent Child

An innocent girl, she had to witness the new normal event under Rama VIII bridge when the authorities were taking the RT-PCR test after the new cluster was breaking out in the community containing the elderly.

Photo by Mr. Seksan Rochanametakul

An elderly showed her phone to health worker to check her personal information during receiving Covid-19 test service regarding her right to Social Security under sections number 33, 39 and 40 at West Sport Building, Bangkok Youth Center (Thailand - Japan), Din Dang.

Photo by Mr.Chumnanwut Sukum

People waited overnight for Covid-19 test, which was limited to only 1,000 per day at Phra Sri Mahathat Temple, Bangkok.

Photo by Mr. Patipat Janthong

“Please Breathe, stay with us”

A Zendai volunteer wearing PPE suit held the hand of “Uncle Toi”, a homeless person around Khlong Lord canel, Ratchadamnoen District, who was lying on the bench with unknown Covid-19 result, before admitting him to Siriraj Hospital. Amidst Covid-19 crisis last year, chronic homelessness increased by 30%, while the access to vaccination and covid-19 treatment was struggling.

Photo by Mr. Nattaphon Phanphongsanon

As many people living in Bangkok area were unable to receive basic rights to Covid-19 treatments, some of them were forced to be self-treated at home with little to no facilities which led to thousands of cases of death. Monks from “Phra Mai Ting Yom” team from Suthi Wararam temple carried the deceased body from their home to their funeral at the temple.

Photo by Mr.Chattapat Suwanyuha

“Covid-19 water gun”

Photo by Miss Sawita Punsathian

Queuing and camping overnight for Covid-19 test at Phra Sri Mahathat Temple.

People were camping overnight for the free Covid-19 test from Bang Bon district office beside the wall of Phra Sri Mahathat Temple, Bangkok. The test service was provided for free during 08.00 AM - 02.00 PM daily, July 5-11, 2020 with limited access to only 900 kits. The lineup for the access started from 06.00 AM, people had decided to wait since 06.00 PM of the previous day.

Photo by Miss Sawita Punsathian

Up the Surgery masks to reuse them, Life in a locked down workers’ camp, who have to live with covid-19 patients who were waiting for their bed?

Construction workers in Pai Tan camp had to wash their surgery masks and dry them in front of their room to reuse the masks. In this camp, the numbers of workers were tested positive for Covid-19 and had to wait for the bed to receive medical treatment. Workers lived in a tight square room made of galvanized sheets with heat and restrained to leave nor enter to the camp. Their work also was suspended for 30 days due to government policies.

Photo by Mr. Sulaiman Tanyong-utong

People gathered to receive Covid-19 vaccination with their hope to make Covid-19 vanish from Thailand.

Photo by Miss Supassara Hadsai

Changed of livelihood, when the sellers installed a plastic partition and wearing mask to prevent Covid-19, while the buyers must also distance while waiting for food during their queue.

Photo by Mr.Trai Sitthisena

Being in school should be a fun time in your life because you don’t have to think too much, you are able to go home with food awaiting, you have money to spend in your school and you are able to go to school to meet some friends. The most difficult activity in school may be memorizing poems in Thai class. However, everything has changed due to social distancing policy and the mask on your face. Students are told not to speak, not to drink from the same glass and not to split.

เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับแอมเนสตี้
บริจาคสนับสนุนแอมเนสตี้