The UN Human Rights Office released the statement on Wednesday denouncing the protest crackdown by the police and the arrests of prominent coal-fired power plant opponents. The agency also pointed out that these actions against a peaceful protest disregarded the country’s commitments on Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Southeast Asia Regional Representative for the UN Human Rights Office, Cynthia Veliko, emphasised in the statement that peaceful protests are an integral part of democratic societies to ensure accountability and public participation. Meanwhile, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for the Wants Foundation, the Union for Civil Liberty, and the Community Resources Centre Foundation released a joint statement on the issue. The joint statement expressed deep concern about the improper exercise of power by the authorities, and urged the government to protect these rights according to the Constitution.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 30, 2017 01:18 UTC