An open letter to International organizations throughout the globe

August 2nd, 2007

Bangkok, Thailand

Dear Sir,

As this letter reaches you, the eight principal leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, an umbrella organization striving for the restoration of Democracy in Thailand in its true and full spirit, are sequestered in a high security prison at Bangkok Remand Custody, Ngam Wong Wan Rd, with lesser privileges than common convicts.

The incidents that led to the conviction itself are testimony to the ghastly new chapter that is being written in the history of this nation of peace-loving, affable people-that of violent repression of individual freedom, open practice of deceit by the state and unlawful manipulation of the judiciary and the press, making a mockery of the chance for a life of decency for the common man.

On July 22^nd 2007, there was a large gathering of peaceful demonstrators in front of General Prem Tinasulanonda's residence. Throughout its history of the last several decades, Thai people have always had the right to protest, and gatherings multiples in size of what was present on the evening of July 22 ^nd have been allowed to protest with no violent interventions by the state.

On this particular evening however, the government in an act of  brazen ruthlessness, designed to cover its shame, disrupted the peaceful gathering by hitherto unprecedented use of force in the form of tear gas, pepper spray and baton charges, leading to chaos, confusion and tears and often grievous injuries for the protestors. In another sign of the pervasive control of the government on all institutions, the local media's reporting was biased to a shocking extent, providing no light from reliable quarters on what actually happened at the protest, that evening. We would like to present actual video footages with narrative in English of the incident, which provides reportage free from the attack by the government censor.

The VDO clips of this incident are also available at

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6365511586023055978

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2668428720748269088

Later on July 26^th 2007, the nine leaders of The United front of Democracy against Dictatorship were present on invitation by the Judge at the Criminal Court, Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok expecting to make a statement on police accusations. In an act of Machiavellian deviousness though, the government found it opportune to detain all the leaders at the court and later subject them to imprisonment for 12 days at the Bangkok Remand Custody, Ngam Wong Wan Rd. This act bears testimony to the complete subversion of all public institutions by the government. First the executive, then the press and now the judiciary too, leaving no hope for redemption at all for the people. Also the betrayal of trust through which the arrests have been achieved is of very deep concern as never before has the state so undermined its own credibility and brazenly lied with intent to cheat, on so trivial an accomplishment as arresting nine citizens.  

Below is the list of leaders who have been sentenced to jail:

Chatuporn Promphan, Jakrapob Penkair, and Nattawut Saiku, PTV executives;

Veera Musikapong, PTV's President; Viphuthalaeng Pattanaphunthar, spokesman for the Saturday Voice against Dictatorship; Dr.Weng Tojirakar, adviser to the Confederation for Democracy; Manit Jitjanklab, former Chief Justice of the Criminal Court;

Apinant Vinyachai, former Thai Rak Thai Member of Parliament And Jaran Ditthapichai, Human Rights Commissioner (Mr.Jaran later bailed himself out with  200,000 Thai Baht)

However taking control of and misusing all public institutions, pales in comparison with the attempt to control the very germinating and sustaining framework that defines and governs these institutions. The government is well aware of the illegal means it used to usurp power, and its motive now is to legitimize and secure its hold by re-writing the constitution. The constitution is the principal authority that sets rights and duties for the citizens, and the notion of having a constitution with no inputs and debates from representatives of the people is a crime and an incorrigible fallacy. To add insult to injury, the government has made it unlawful to have any kind of debate on the proposed constitution, and has resorted to mandates and large scale coercive campaigning to ensure a majority in favor of the proposed constitution in the referendum.

We urge you to take a principled stand against this grave injustice being committed against Thai people and their future generations, and support us by posting formal independent observers of the fairness of the referendum to accept the constitution which will take place on August 19 either through the United Nations or through your own country or organization.

We thank you for your time in reading this letter, look forward to your support and reiterate  our most intense and   abiding passion   towards  working to  restore true   and full democracy to the Kingdom of Thailand.

With Best Regards,

The United front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)