Two days after a skirmish with police officers before a mobile cabinet meeting in Songkhla, 16 Thepha residents, including a minor, who were chained and locked up, have been freed, but they still face tough legal action. The prime minister even questioned if the Thepha residents had an ulterior motive in seeking to hand him their petition letter by themselves, rather than making it through a Damrongtham complaint centre. The EHIA approval prompted the Thepha residents to stage a sit-in protest in Bangkok. What is needed is dialogue between the state and the Thepha locals. Before that, it is necessary for the government drop all charges against the Thepha locals, without any conditions attached.

Source: Bangkok Post November 29, 2017 21:33 UTC