We, the undersigned organizations, condemn the legal intimidation of Suthila Leunkam, Tanaporn Wijan, Sriprai Nonsee, and Sia Jampathong: prominent Thai labor activists who have been subject to legal intimidation and police harassment following their work organizing pro-democracy rallies. Suthila, Sriprai and Tanaporn are former women unionists and leading labor activists while Sia is a garment unionist with political acuity. Their courage and integrity has contributed to autonomy and strength of the independent trade union movement in Thailand. They have been outstanding in working towards bridging the gap between domestic and migrant workers and building labor power in the ongoing pro-democracy movement.

We condemn the blatant violence enacted by riot police against protesters peacefully exercising their freedom of expression in Bangkok between August 1st to 15th. We also express our grave concerns towards ongoing practices of arbitrary arrests, detention without due process, and the criminalization of pro-democracy activities by state authorities. According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center, 32 protesters were arrested for attending the protest on the 3rd of August, at least 18 people were arrested before and shortly after the protest on 7th August, and at least 64 people, including 16 youth under the age of 18, were arrested by Thai authorities between August 10th and 11th alone. Prominent activists also continue to be denied proper legal representation under the pretense of pandemic precautions.

BACKGROUND
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, the Thai government has weaponized existing laws to silence dissidents and brutally suppress protests, injuring citizens with impunity. We see this as part of a wider trend whereby the pandemic has been used as an excuse to tighten the grip of dictators across Southeast Asia.

With the mishandling of the pandemic response and corruption allegations surrounding the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines as impetus, protesters recently took to the streets demanding better crisis management to meet the needs of the people. In response, the government used escalating violence to silence protesters, injuring scores of protesters, journalists and bystanders. Moreover, rising numbers of activists have been targeted and harassed by security forces. These include labor activists and leaders of the trade union movement who are voicing the grievances of workers bearing the brunt of this pandemic.

We are joining the growing pro-democracy movement not only in Thailand but across Asia in demanding that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha take full responsibility for corruption surrounding the vaccine, violent suppression of protesters, as well as mishandling of this dire health, economic and social crisis. Prayuth must meet the people’s demands and immediately resign, dissolve the parliament and begin the drafting process for a new constitution.

List of Endorsing Organizations:
1. Just Economy and Labor Institute (JELI), Thailand
2. The Workers' Union, Thailand
3. SEA Left network, Thailand
4. Human Rights and Development Foundation, Thailand
5. Peace Way Foundation/Migrant Working Group, Thailand
6. Labor Network for People's Rights, Thailand
7. SHero, Thailand
8. Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS), Indonesia
9. Working People's Party (PRP), Indonesia
10. Indonesian Confederation of United Workers (KPBI), Indonesia
11. Sentral Gerakan Buruh Nasional (SGBN), Indonesia
12. Konfederasi Serikat Nasional (KSN), Indonesia
13. Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia (KPRI), Indonesia
14. Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), Indonesia
15. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodia
16. BWI Asia Pacific, Philippines
17. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino Workers/BMP), Philippines
18. Center for Trade Union.and Human Rights (CTUHR), Philippines
19. SPA, Philippines
20. Sentro Publiko, Philippines
21. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Philippines
22. Federation and Cooperation of Cola, Beverage and Allied Industry Union (FCCU-SENTRO), Philippines
23. Alliance of Filipino Workers, Philippines
24. Partido Manggagawa (Labor Party), Philippines
25. LEARN, Philippines
26. Timber Industry Employee Union, Malaysia
27. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Malaysia
28. Union of Forestry Department Employees Sarawak (UFES), Malaysia
29. Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union, Malaysia
30. Timber Employees Union Peninsular, Malaysia
31. Socialist Youth, PSM Youth Wing, Malaysia
32. National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers, Malaysia
33. AMMPO MALAYSIA, Malaysia
34. Labour Law Reform Coalition, Malaysia
35. North South Initiative, Malaysia
36. UNI-MALASIA LABOUR CENTER, Malaysia
37. CAW, Malaysia
38. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (Friends Of Women Selangor), Malaysia
39. International Domestic Workers Federation, Hong Kong
40. Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), South Korea
41. OSAN MIGRENT CENTER, South Korea
42. APWSL, South Korea
43. Serve the People Association, Taoyuan (SPA), Taiwan
44. Migrante International Taiwan Chapter Taiwan
45. Textile Garments Workers Federation, Bangladesh
46. Worker's Initiative - Kolkata, India
47. Public Services International, Asia Pacific Regional
48. Socialist Alliance, Australia
49. Brighi Cecilia, Italia
50. Bakone Trade and Workers Rights Center South Africa, South Africa
51. FIRST Union, New Zealand
52. FETICO, Spain


*Please respond by August 15th, 12am Thailand (GMT+7)