(Photo via The Isaan Record)KUALA LUMPUR - The United Nations urged Thailand on Tuesday to drop criminal cases against female activists who campaign for the rights of their communities, amid concerns they face increasing harassment. Sanitsuda Ekachai: Forest dwellers jailed; rich get to own whole islands"The crucial work of women human rights defenders in Thailand should be enabled and protected, not prevented," its acting deputy representative Katia Chirizzi said in a statement. The UN repeated the tweet in Thai (below)We urge #Thailand govt drop cases against women #humanrights defenders. In another case, seven women activists in the northeastern province of Loei face up to five and a half years in jail after they were indicted on July 25 for violating public assembly and criminal laws, according to the statement. Thailand has a history of land rights activists disappearing or being killed.

Source: Bangkok Post August 01, 2017 17:51 UTC