Seven student activists in Thailand’s Northeast, Isan Region, refused to appear at a police station on Monday while activist groups from many regions of the nation marched to show their moral support.

On 8 June, seven student activists of Dao Din, a student activist group based in Khon Kaen University who were summoned by the police, refused to report to the police in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

They hoped that their ‘civil resistance movement’ could inspire other activists and people to show solidarity against the military regime.

People gathered at the Democracy Monument of Khon Kaen province on Monday to show moral support for the embattled student activists of the Dao Din Group, summoned by the police.   

The group were summoned because of their anti-coup activity on 22 May, which led to their arrest and detention. However, they were granted temporary release by the authorities on bail on 23 May.

At 9 am, a group of people gathered at the Democracy Monument in Khon Kaen to show moral support to the seven of Dao Din.

The group consisted of people who have been affected by the coup d’état and Article 44 of the junta’s 2014 Interim Constitution.  They came from the northeastern provinces of Khon Kaen, Loei, Udon Thani and elsewhere, and included the Federation of Pattani Student and Youth (PERMAS) from the southern border province of Pattani.

About 200 people were at the gathering, most of whom are members of activist groups nationwide.

At the gathering, the Neo E-saan Movement group, an environmental activist group based in the northeast, read out a statement against the junta.

The statement condemned the junta and urged the regime to respect democracy, human rights and justice, and to allow public participation in policy making. The gathering disbanded at around 1 pm. It was tightly monitored by military officers.

The Dao Din group has been active in campaigning for people’s rights over natural resources and liberty. They are known for their leading role in a campaign against a controversial gold mine in Loei Province.

On 5 June, the Dao Din group organised a screening of a short film through their Facebook page, inviting people to show moral support for their action on 8 June. Later on 7 June, the Khon Rak Baan Koed group (People Who Love Their Home) (KRBK), an activist group of villagers who have been affected by the gold mine in Loei Province, held a blessing ceremony for Dao Din activists.