<div>An appeal court has refused to try the assassination case of a community rights defender killed earlier this year, ruling that the witnesses are unreliable despite being present at the crime scene.</div>
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<div>On 1 December 2016, the Surat Thani Appeal Court dismissed the assassination case of <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4780">Chai Bunthonglek, a land rights activist who was killed in February this year</a>, reported the Human Rights Lawyers Association.
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<p dir="ltr">The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia expressed concern about the number of failed prosecutions involving murder cases of land rights activists in the South of Thailand, amid increasing restrictions on rights activists.</p>
By Front Line Defenders |
<p align="JUSTIFY">On 8 April 2016, human rights defender Mr <strong>Supoj Kansong</strong> was seriously injured outside Khong Sai Pattana community, Chai Buri district, Surat Thani province as a result of gunshots fired by an unidentified man.</p>
<p>An unidentified gunman has shot an activist who is a key witness to the murder of a land rights activist in southern Thailand.</p>
<p>Supot Kansong, 42, a villager of Khlong Sai Pattana Community in Chai Buri District of Surat Thani, was ambushed by an unidentified gunman at around 3 pm on Friday, 8 April 2016.</p>
<p>Supot was injured in the right thigh, hip and leg, but survived. He is currently being treated at Chai Buri Hospital.</p>
<p>He was shot as he was driving back to the village after the tires of his car burst because nails had been spread on the road leading to the village.</p>
<p>A Provincial Court has dismissed charges against a man accused of taking part in killing a southern land rights activist, citing weak evidence.</p>
<p>The Provincial Court in Wiang Sa District of Surat Thani Province, on Tuesday, 15 March 2016, dismissed charges against Santi Wanthong, a suspect in the assassination of Chai Bunthonglek, a 61-year-old member of the Southern Peasant’s Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Khlong Sai Pattana Community in Chai Buri District of Surat Thani.</p>
By Taweesak Kerdpoka |
<div>This article investigates why the Khlong Sai Pattana community in Surat Thani Province has occupied a deforested protected area taken from a palm oil plantation corporation after its 30-year concession ended. Land rights activists discuss how the poor are unfairly discriminated against in their right to land to make a living, while capitalists keep reaping benefits from the land.
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<p dir="ltr">Villagers from the southern Thailand currently facing an eviction order from the Thai authorities asked National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate how the eviction order was reached. </p>
By Human Rights Watch |
<p>(New York, February 14, 2015) – Thai authorities should immediately investigate the killing of a land rights activist in southern <a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c5195-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=MC&RI=4432086&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=72612&Action=Follow+Link">Thailand</a>, Human Rights Watch said today.<br /></p>
By UN Human Rights Office for South East Asia |
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<div>BANGKOK (13 FEBRUARY 2015) - The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) urges the Government to promptly investigate the killing of a land rights activist in the south of Thailand and increase security measures for the members of his community.</div>
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<div>On 11 February, Mr.
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<p>One of the community leaders of an embattled farmers’ community in southern Thailand has been assassinated. He is the fourth villager assassinated during the on-going dispute with a palm oil company.</p>
<p>Chai Bunthonglek, a 61-year-old member of the Southern Peasant’s Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Khlong Sai Pattana Community in Chai Buri District of southern Surat Thani Province, was assassinated by two gunmen around 6 pm on Thursday. Chai was shot dead at his house by a .357 gun.</p>
<p>He is the fourth member of the SPFT from Khlong Sai Pattana Community to be shot dead.</p>
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<p>Front Line Defenders</p>
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<p><img alt="" src="http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/files/images/cases/protest_thailand.jpg" /></p>
<p><span>A demonstration organized by the Souhtern Peasants' Federation of Thailand last year (Photo curtesy of </span><a href="http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/24231"><span>Front Line Defenders</span></a><span>)</span></p>
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