Military summons southern land rights activist for detention

The military summoned a southern land rights activist for three days of detention after he led a group of local farmers to fight for their land rights.

The military on Sunday issued a letter summoning Peerat Bunrit, one of the leaders of Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Chai Buri District of Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand, to a so-called ‘attitude adjustment camp’ for three days.

The summons stated that in order to create a good environment conducive to returning happiness to the Thai people, the Surat Thani army command in compliance with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would like to summon Peerat to attend ‘attitude adjustment’ for three days.

The letter stipulates that Peerat has to report to the military from 10-11 am on Tuesday. Peerat told Prachatai that he will report in.   

Peerat is a southern land rights activist who has been promoting land rights for embattled landless villagers in Surat Thani in a prolonged legal struggle with Thai Boonthong, an oil palm company.  

The disputed land belongs to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO), who in 2010 allowed the villagers to settle on the land since the company’s concession ended 14 years ago. However, the company has not moved out.

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