Thai HR Conference

[cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Boonthan T. Verawongse wrote:
> 
> ASIAN CULTURAL FORUM ON DEVELOPMENT (ACFOD) and
> Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), Thailand
> Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organizations in Thailand (CCHROT)
> Organizing Committee of the 5th Anniversary of May 1992 Popular Uprising
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> April 20, 1997
> 
> Invitation to the Regional Conference
> 
> Dear friends,
> 
> Warm Greetings!
> 
> We would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the "Regional
> Conference on Human Rights, Democratic Development and Civil Society" will
> be held from May 14-17, 1997 in Bangkok on the occasion of the 5th
> Anniversary of the Popular Uprising against the Authoritarian regime in May
> 1992.
> 
> The Regional Conference aims to: provide the forum for mutual sharing of the
> experiences and views of concerned citizens, human rights advocates and the
> democratic movement; strengthen solidarity among them; and to uphold
> justice, peace and humanitarianism. Also, objective of the regional
> conference is to reaffirm the significant role of human rights in the
> democratic society.
> 
> We would like to invite you to participate at our forthcoming regional
> conference. Please find the enclosed detail of the program for your
> reference. The conference is being co-organized and co-sponsored by the
> Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), the Committee of the Relatives of the
> Democratic Heroes in May 1992 (CRHM), the Coordinating Committee of Human
> Rights Organizations in Thailand (CCHROT), Student Federation of Thailand
> (SFT), the Organizing Committee of the 5th Anniversary of the Popular
> Uprising in May 1992 and other supportive organizations including ACFOD.
> 
> We hope you will be able to accept our invitation at this short notice. If
> any clarification is needed, please don't hesitate to let us know at your
> earliest convenience. Your advise on the content and process of the
> Conference will be very much appreciated.
> 
> You can communicate with us to the following persons and address:
> 
>         Mr. Boonthan T. Verawongse/ or Ms. Vanessa Liell
>         Regional Conference on Human Rights, Democratic Development
>         and Civil Society
>         c/o ACFOD Peace and Human Rights Program
>         P.O. Box 26, Bungthonglang Post Office, Bangkok 10242, Thailand.
>         Tel. (66 2) 370 2701, 370 2701, (66 1) 917 5960
>         Fax. (66 2) 374 0464, 370 1202
>         Email: hrnet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  or  acfod@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> Look forward to your positive response.
> 
>                                         Sincerely Yours,
> 
>                                             (signed)
> 
>                                          Bantorn Ondam
>                                    Coordinator, ACFOD; and
>                         Chairperson, Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD)
> 
> NOTE: Original copy is being sent by airmail.
> 
> enclosed:
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> The 5th Anniversary Commemoration
> of the May 1992  Popular Uprising
> 
> Regional Conference on Human Rights,
> Democratic Development and Civil Society
> May 14 - 17, 1997
> Bangkok, Thailand
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> BACKGROUND:
> 
>         Social, Economic and Political Changes in Thailand in the past such as the
> Democratic Revolution on June 24, 1932, the Popular Uprising on October 14,
> 1973 or even the May Uprising in 1992 all are inspired by the basic concern
> that the people are aware of their rights and are becoming more active to
> participate in the social and political processes. Although there are some
> differences between the October 6, 1976 movement/ event and the other key
> events mentioned above, there are also some similarity in term of the
> "spirit" and "political wills." The will is to struggle for people's
> democracy against the authoritarianism and dictatorial regime which
> attempted to regain power once again. The coup d'etat committed by the
> military junta known as the "National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC)" seized
> the administrative power from the Government led by Gen Chartichai
> Choonhavan in February 1991 is merely another political scene which exposed
> the "Power Play" between the old-styled "Authoritarian" and the modern
> "Capital Forces." The ordinary people were always threated like "Biah Noi"
> (or a small pawn) on the Thai political checker board.
> 
> The Thai people have somehow expressed their democratic consciousness in
> opposing the military coup, seizing the power from the
> democratically-elected government, dissolving the legislative assemly,
> abolishing the constitution, and opposing the abuse of power as well as the
> junta's effort in prolonging their political power. This collective effort
> led to more united forces from various sectors, groups and all walks of life
> throughout the country to struggle for democracy. The state power responded
> aggressively to the peaceful demonstration of the people by brutal
> suppression. Many hundred of thousands of people were suppressed by the
> military forces. Many thousands were arrested while many hundreds were
> killed, injured and disappeared. The bloody massacre on the Rajdamnern
> Avenue on May 17-21, 1992 in Bangkok, once again, gave us a lesson that the
> innocent people were "Extrajudicially Executed" by the military and police
> forces led by the NPKC tyrants. This is nothing different from the
> suppression in Indonesia in 1964, East Timor in 1975, South Korea (Kwangju)
> in 1980, Burma in 1988 or even the "Tian an Men Massacre" in China in 1989.
> Although, it's nearly 5 years since the popular uprising and brutal
> massacre, we still recognize that this is another important historical event.
> 
> Even though the May Uprising and bloody massacre took place 5 years ago in
> 1992, it is an unforgettable event that all concerned citizen and
> democratic-minded people should take up as a lesson and try to find out the
> way to prevent this sort of political suppression and state violence against
> the people to occur again here or anywhere else.
> 
> Democracy and Human Rights are both essential to maintain a just, peaceful
> society and the social life of each individual member of the community. They
> are both the goal and means for genuine human development and emancipation.
> The consciousness on democracy and human rights have prevailed among the
> people all throughout the region in the recent years. Its trend is very
> positive.
> 
> The Organizing Committee of the 5th Anniversary Commemoration of May 1992
> Popular Uprising, comprising of the relatives and friends of victims,
> students and youth, democratic movements and various action groups, have
> join the collective efforts to bring together various concern advocates,
> movement leaders, and the youth from various countries and social
> backgrounds to share their commitment. The Organizers, hope that this
> Regional Conference will be another great opportunity to strengthen the
> people movements and move forward the transborder people solidarity.
> 
> In the mean time, Thailand is in the process of drafting a new constitution
> which is the first time in the history that the ordinary people have had an
> opportunity to involve in the formulating of the content in the draft. This
> Regional Conference will be able to contribute some new ideas from the rich
> experiences of our "Kalyanamitra" (meaning the good friends in our local
> language). We are also looking forward to a new pro-people Democratic
> Constitution based on Human Rights and social Justice which will be
> meaningful to political reform and further democratic development for our
> respective society.
> 
> ..
> 
> PROGRAMME       :    Regional Conference on Human Rights, Democratic Development
> and Civil Society on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary
> Commemoration of the May Uprising in 1992
> 
> DATE            :    14 - 19 May 1997
>                         Conference              14 - 17 May 1997
>                         Commemoration Events    17 - 19 May 1997
> 
> VENUE           :    Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
> 
> CO-ORGANIZERS   :  * Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD)
>                    * Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organizations of
> Thailand (CCHROT)
>                    * Committee of the Relatives of the Democratic Heroes in May
> Uprising in 1992 (CRHM)
>                    * Student Federation of Thailand (SFT)
>                    * Organizing Committee,
>                      the 5th Anniversary Commemoration of the May 1992 Uprising
>                    * Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD)
> 
> PARTICIPANTS    : 80 - 100 persons (local 60-80, overseas 20-40)
>                   comprised of students and youth, lawyers, human rights
> advocates, democratic movement, social development
> workers, relatives of the democratic heroes,
> pro-democracy politicians, mass media/ journalists, and
> concerned citizens from both local and overseas.
> 
> OBJECTIVES      : 1.To provide the forum for mutual sharing of
> experiences, ideas among participants on the democratic
> development process, human rights and popular movement.
> 
>                   2. To foster the linkage and solidarity among the movement
> participated at the conference.
> 
>                   3. To express the gratitude and respect to the high spirit of
> the popular movement striving for democracy.
> 
>                   4. To promote and uphold the principles of peaceful,
> non-violence, humanitarian and social justice.
> 
>                   5. To reaffirm the significant of human rights in the
> democratic society.
> 
> CONTENT :         a) Promotion and the defense of human rights in Asian society.
>                   b) Experiences in the struggle for democracy, human rights and
> social justice from various countries.
>                   c) Democratic Development/ Political Reform for genuine
> democracy.
>                   d) Solidarity and cooperation between the peoples'
> organizations and peoples' organizations
> 
> Tentative Schedule
> Regional Conference on Human Rights,
> Democratic Development and Civil Society
> 14 - 17 May 1997
> Bangkok, Thailand
> ---------------------------
> 
> 14 May 1997 (Wednesday)
> 
> 09:00 - 09:10   Introduction:   Adul Khiewboribool
>                                 Representative, Committee of the Relatives of
> Heroes in May 1992 Uprising (CRHM)
> 
> 09:10 - 09:25   Welcome Remarks: Prof. Noraniti Setrabutra
>                                  The Rector, Thammasart University
> 
> 09:25 - 09:40   Guest Speaker:   Hon. Uthai Pimchaichon
>                                  Chair, Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA)
> 
> 09:40 - 10:30   Keynote Speech:  Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn
>                                  Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University
> 
> 10:30 - 11:00   Tea Break
> 11:00 - 12:30   Share Experience: "Struggle for Human Rights and Popular
> Democracy"
>                         Southeast Asia: Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia,
> Philippines, East Timor, Thailand
>                         Other regions:  China, Hong Kong, Korea
>                         Chair of the session:   Bantorn Ondam
>                                                 Campaign for Popular Democracy
> 
> 12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
> 13:30 - 15:00   Share Experience (continue)
> 15:00 - 16:30   Working Group I:
>                         * National Security Laws
> 
>                         * State Violence/ Militarisation
> 
>                         * Development Aggression
> 
> 16:30 - 18:00   Plenary/ Report Back
>                         Chair:     Sanpasit Koompraphant (CCHROT)
> 
> 19:00           Reception Dinner
> 
> 15 May 1997 (Thursday)
> 
> 09:00 - 11:00   Panel Discussion "Good Governance and Constitutionalism"
>                         Speakers:  Justice P.N. Bhagwati (former Justice, India)
>                                    Wigberto Tanada (MP, Philippines)
>                                    Won Soon Pak (HR Lawyer, Korea)
>                                    Somkid Srisangkom (CDA Member, Thailand)
>                                    Pibhob Thongchai (Campaign for Popular
> Democracy)
>                         Chair:     Dr. Anek Laothammathat (Professor, Thammasat
> University)
> 
> 11:00 - 12:30   Open Discussion
> 12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
> 13:30 - 16:30   Working Group II:
>                 a) Reasserting Human Rights in the Democratic Constitution
> 
>                 b) Democratizing State, Social and Political Institutions
> 
>                 c) Renewing Popular Participation
> 
> 16:30 - 18:00   Plenary/ Report Back
> 
> 16 May 1997 (Friday)
> 
> 09:00 - 11:00   Panel Discussion "Strengthening the Civil Society"
>                 Speakers: Vanida Tantivitayapitak (Assembly of the Poor)
>                            Dej Poomkacha (TVS/ ACFOD, Thailand)
>                            Delegate from Korea (Kwangju Movement)
>                            Delegate from the Philippines (Anti-Nuclear Movement)
>                            Delegate from India (Chipko Movement)
> 
> 11:00 - 12:30   Open Discussion
> 12:30 - 13:30   Lunch
> 13:30 - 15:30   Proposal: "Towards A Transborder People's Solidarity"
> 15:30 - 16:00   Tea Break
> 16:00 - 18:00   Proposed Plan for Action
>                 Presentation and finalize of the Draft Declaration
>                 Conclussion Session
> 19:00           Dinner Talk
> 
> 17 May 1997 (Saturday) - 19 May 1997 (Monday)
> 
> 09:00 - 21:00   Participate in the Commemoration Events
>                 (detail will be available soon)
> 
> NOTE: This program is only a tentative one. Some speakers are still to be
> confirmed. The Organizers will inform you soon about the update program and
> technical arrangement.