International Solidarity Action in Chiang Mai

(September 23, 2006) In solidarity with the Thai democracy lovers who braved the martial law yesterday, and held a protest action in Bangkok, activists and friends from different countries based in Chiang Mai held their own version of a protest action. Some 12 foreign activists and friends gathered, mostly wearing black, and wrote their condemnation of military rule and call for democr acy in sheets of paper and had their photos taken.

As most of them have come from countries with their own history of violent military rule – Indonesia, Philippines, Burma, Fiji, Nepal, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan – they expressed their serious concern on the military take over of the Thai government. “We have been supportive of protest actions against the Thaksin government. We have been critical in its poor human rights record. We have also denounced the decreasing democratic space available to the human rights defenders under the Thaksin rule. But under a military rule, there’s no democratic space to speak of,” says Judy A. Pasimio, a Filipino activist. The Philippines has been under martial law from1972-1986 during the Marcos regime.

“We hope that more Thai people will come out and express their desire for genuine democracy. The international community is supportive of this. We have had painful memories of what its like under a military rule, with all human rights suspended and democratic institutions are abolished,” says Titi Soentoro, who was part of the anti-Suharto movement in Indonesia.

The group, who loosely call themselves as the Thai Solidiarity Network, calls on more non-Thais living in Thailand to support the Thai people’s movement for democracy. “Thailand is a critical player in the region. What happens here has ripple effect on the neighboring countries. If we condone military rule here, we are saying that the military junta in Burma is legitimate; we may be saying that a military take over is the solution for ousting Arroyo in the Philippines,” Pasimio said. “What we want to see, and struggle for, is genuine democracy – in Thailand, in our home countries, and all over the world.”