Case

Case name

Seven Ladies in Loei Province monitoring Khao Luang Local Administrative Council Meeting

Status of Accused

No arrest pending investigation

Offense / order

Public Assembly Act 2015, Others (-)

Summary

The seven all-female accused and other 150 villagers gathered in front of Khao Luang Local Administrative Office to monitor a meeting which included an agenda to extend the gold mining concession permit in a land for agriculture and forestry plot, which Thung Kham Company Limited was previously granted a concession. Villagers demanded the agenda pertaining the gold mine concession meeting to be canceled. The seven accused were accused of forcing member of Khao Luang LAO members against their wills by using threats to life, body, liberty, reputation, or properties. Furthermore, Ponthip Hongchai was accused of organizing a public rally without notifying the competent authority.

Basic information

Background of accused

The seven accused are villgers from 'Khon Rak Ban Kerd' group which is a group of people from 6 villages in Wang Saphung District, Loei Province who receive negative effect from operation of gold mine of Thung Kham co.ltd.

Complainant / Plaintiff

Pol. Col. Suchin Nawareun, Wangsapung Police Station superintendent is an accusor in this case

Legal Claims

Being an organizer but fail to notify public assembly to the authority, Others (-)

Form of restriction on freedom

Charge filed, Summons
Type of media

Public Assembly
Province

Loei
Court

Loie Provincial Court
Black case

คำอธิบายคดีดำ ภาษาอังกฤษ

Court: ศาลจังหวัดเลย No: 2858/2560 Date: 2017-07-25

Details of offence according to charge

On 16 November 2016, the seven accused and other 150 people gathered in front of Khao Luang Local Administrative Office to monitor a meeting which included an agenda to extend the gold mining concession permit in a land for agriculture and forestry plot, which Thung Kham Company Limited was previously granted a concession. The seven accused and other villagers demanded the agenda pertaining the gold mine concession meeting to be canceled because the mining concession negatively impacted the environment and community members’ health.

The seven accused of jointly forcing member of Khao Luang LAO members gains their wills by using threats to life, body, liberty, reputation, or properties. Ponthip Hongchai was the only one accused of organizing a public rally without notifying the competent authority.

Progress of case

8 December 2016

Pol. Capt. Wasant Saengthepo brought a warrant to Ponthip Hongchai, one of the seven accused to report to the police to acknowledge her charges on 11 December 2016. The seven accused could not do so because it was during a harvest season. They requested to postpone the date to 18 December 2016.

18 December 2016

The seven accused from Kon Rak Bankerd Group reported to the police and acknowledge the charges. Pol. Col. Suchin Nawareun, Wangsapung Police Station superintendent ordered to charge the seven for organizing a public assembly without notifying the competent official and jointly forcing member of Khao Luang LAO members gains their wills by using threats to life, body, liberty, reputation, or properties.

The seven villagers denied all charges and refused to pay a fine. They reasoned that they neither organized nor joined a public assembly. They observed a Local Administrative Council Meeting which affects their livelihood. The LAO president also invited them to participate in writing; thus, villagers argued that they did not involve in a public assembly as they were charged.

8 March 2017

The seven accused from Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group arrived at Loei Provincial Public Prosecutor Office after the police have finalized the inquiry and the case was transferred from the police to the public prosecutor. Then, the seven were scheduled to meet the public prosecutor for an indictment order on 30 March 2017

30 March 2017

The public prosecutor ordered the accused to hear indictment order on 25 July 2017.

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