Activists held under broad new Article 44 order by junta

ENVIRONMENTALIST TOLD HE IS ON MAFIA LIST

PRATCH RUJIVANAROM

THE NATION

AN order issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Tuesday is seen as a powerful new tool to be used against the government’s opposition, with two cases of environmental activists being held by the military reported already.

On Tuesday, NCPO issued Order 13/2559 giving the military the authority to conduct raids against suspects without a court order. The order also allows authorities to detain suspects for up to seven days. Authorised officers operating under the order are also protected by the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in State of Emergency.

The junta’s rationale for the order is that it employs the power of Article 44 of the interim charter to crack down on mafia groups and anyone who undermines the social order, economy or stability of the country.

However, Taweesak Inkwang, a leading activist opposing the Chiang Rak Yai waste-to-energy plant, said authorities from the Fourth Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion had invoked the order to summon him on Wednesday for a “discussion” about his movement.

Taweesak said soldiers told him that he was on a list of mafia figures.

“I was asked about my role in the campaign against the waste-to-energy plant that has been proposed to be built in my hometown in Tambon Chiang Rak Yai [in Pathum Thani’s Sam Khok District] and as a supporter of the movement opposing waste-to-energy plants nationwide,” he said.

“However, I insisted that I had no connection to dark businesses or mafia, as the soldiers said.”

He also said soldiers told him to soften his protest against the waste-fired power plant and to delete his Facebook post about the Army summons.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lamom Boonyong, a fisherman who has campaigned regarding a land conflict involving Rayong residents and the expansion of the Map Ta Phut deep water seaport, and two fellow activists were arrested by the soldiers from the Second Infantry Regiment.

Sor Rattanamani Polkla, a lawyer with the Community Resource Centre, a non-government advocacy organisation, said Lamom and the other two activists had been released late on Wednesday after being arrested because of their role in the land conflict between the Muang district offices and residents of Tambon Paknam.

“Lamom’s summons letter stated that the Army was using the power under NCPO order numbers 3 and 4/2558 regarding violation of social stability to arrest him, but the practice is clearly seen to be an exercise of power under Order 13/2559,” Sor Rattanamani said.

“When I first read this order, I was sure that the junta would use it against the people, as even before the order was enforced, people were already oppressed by the Army during their campaigns against government policies and this order is giving the soldiers legal tools.”

She stressed that the order opened the way for the military to act against activists because destabilisation and defamation were included under it. Future movement opposing harmful state and private projects would be negatively affected, she added.

Taweesak said the order is clearly another junta effort to diminish people’s liberty because it can be used against any person or campaign that opposes governmental policy.

“I feel a little worried about this order because it gives ultimate authority to soldiers to conduct searches and arrests. They can seize us at any time, but this will not make me too afraid to campaign for my hometown,” he said.