The Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) human rights group has issued a statement that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly to express political views is fundamental to democracy and that the state is obliged to guarantee the people such freedom. This statement comes in response to violent clashes on July 22 between police and demonstrators during the rally of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)* calling for the resignation of Privy Council president Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda.
UCL's statement regrets that events on Sunday did not conform to this principle. Police tried to obstruct the demonstrators from reaching the Sisao Thewes residence of Gen. Prem, infuriating some of the demonstrators and resulting in violent clashes and injuries on both sides, it said.
In order to avoid further violence and confrontation, UCL proposes an investigation of the incident by a panel of respected public figures with the responsibility to report to the government and the public, and to prosecute all wrongdoers, whether police officers or demonstrators, as a way to uphold justice and human rights.
Please find the full text of UCL's statement follows
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Declaration concerning the avoidance of violence during a conflict of opinion During a protest by the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) at the home of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda in the Thewes district of Bangkok, there occurred violent clashes between police and demonstrators. Alleging the part played by General Prem in organizing the military coup of 19th September 2006, protestors called for his resignation. As a result of the clashes which took place in the late e! vening of Sunday 22nd July, according to news media, 106 persons were injured. The Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) maintains that the holding of non-violent protest to make known a political viewpoint is a civil right and a fundamental component of the democratic system. It is the duty of government to assure that the right of citizens to exercise this right is respected at all times, whether their action is against or in support of government, or to express other political opinion. It is a matter of great regret that the protest on 22nd July last could not enjoy such a right to free expression due to the action of the police in blocking the protest march to the residence of General Prem in the Thewes district. The action angered some participants in the protest leading to the use of force and many casualties both among the protestors and the police. To avoid the recurrence of such violence, perhaps on an even larger scale, the Union for Civil Liberty submits the following proposals:
Statement issued on 23rd July 2007 Union for Civil Liberty |
* the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) = the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD)
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