Members of Faiyen

Michelle Bachelet Jeria
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
InfoDesk ohchr.org

Filippo Grandi
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
feller unhcr.org, balde unhcr.org, crisp unhcr.org

Antonio Tajani
President of the European Union
president ep.europa.eu

President Sauli Niinistö
Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
kirjaamo tpk.fi

President Emmanuel Macron
Palais de l’Élysée
contact en-marche.fr

Jyoti Sanghera,
Chief of Asia Pacific Section, Geneva
Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights
jsanghera ohchr.org

Dear Excellencies,

A group of Thai musicians in Laos are in imminent danger of their lives, of being murdered by the Thai state. They are right now in urgent need of sanctuary and protection.

Brief background

For 5 years following the 2014 military coup, led by Royal Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan- Ocha, the people of Thailand had to endure every aspect of humiliation, suppression and oppression. On March 24 this year Chan-Ocha permitted the election of a 500 member of Parliament but Prayuth’s junta retained the right to appoint the 250-seat Senate, which now includes 101 military generals.

The opening of the Parliament was delayed for the Coronation of the King as Head of State, and is now scheduled for 24 May 2019.

With the heavy military presence in the Senate, and all across the country, the political atmosphere in Thailand remains full of fear and speculation, not least because the people are well-aware that their new Head of the State has never shown any sign of respecting democracy.

The March 24 General Election is now recognised as one of the dirtiest in Thai history. During the last decade Thailand’s draconian laws of lèse majesté have become known worldwide. The current Constitution continues to state that “The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship which shall not be violated. No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action.”

After the 1976 military coup Article 112 of the Thai Penal Code was amended to state that “Any person who defames, insults or threatens the King (the Queen, Heir-apparent or Regent) will be punished with a 3 - 15 year prison sentence.” More recently the absolute power of the Head of State has been bolstered through the Computer Crimes Act and other such legislation.

Thailand’s lèse majesté laws are aimed directly at precluding meaningful exercise of Freedom of Speech and Expression and Freedom of Assembly, and Chan-Ocha’s junta has made it their mission to eliminate any voice that attempts to criticise the Head of the State. For the first time since the violent military crackdown against the Thai student body in 1976, around 200 hundred Thai people (politicians, students, community leaders and artists) have had to flee the country, mainly because of lèse majesté.

The Prayuth junta has formed an assassination squad that can be deployed all around the world to eliminate any dissident voice.

In Laos 8 LM 112 refugees have been murdered since 2016, 6 within the last 5 months.

22 June 2016 Itthipol Sukpaen, 29

29 July 2017 Wuttipong Kotchadhammakun, 47

12 December 2018 Surachai Daanwattananusorn, 75

12 December 2018 Chatchan Bubphawan, 54

12 December 2018 Kraidet Luelert, 47

January 2019 Chucheep Chiwasut, 65,

Siam Theerawut, 34

Kritsana Thapthai, 40.

At this moment there are 6 Thai musicians in Laos in imminent danger - facing immediate need of sanctuary and protection.

Four days ago (17.05) the 6 members of the musical group ‘Faiyen’ received a direct warning from a well-known international organisation in Thailand that Prayuth’s assassination squad, the same squad that brutally murdered Surachai and friends in December, is coming for them on 22 May. Right now that squad is crossing from Thailand to Laos.

Upon receipt of this warning, in contact with ‘Action for People’s Democracy in Thailand’ (ACT4DEM), Faiyen decided to make their situation fully public, and ACT4DEM launched a ‘#SaveFaiyen #Don’tKillFaiyen’ campaign. Through Twitter Thailand the threat facing Faiyen has become common knowledge.

The assassination of the Faiyen musicians would be a horrible and terrible tragedy, an insult to musicians around the world, and yet another indelible blot against the Kingdom.

This is a letter to respected leaders of the world requesting that somebody step-in and take action to protect these musicians.

Thailand has provided space and facilities for UN offices and many international human rights organisations, but when it comes to protecting Freedom of Speech in Thailand, and the victims of LM 112, their reaction is frequently deplorable.

This time we do really beg your Excellencies for a speedy response. You have the power to save these citizens of conscience. Please step-up . . right now. Please take action to provide these musicians with sanctuary. They are brave people whose voice and music speaks for millions.

Yours sincerely,

Junya Yimrpasert
Action for People’s Democracy in Thailand (ACT4DEM)
Email: act4dem gmail.com

. . and the members of Faiyen:
Trairong ‘Khunthong’ Sinseubpol
Romchalee ‘Yammy’ Sombulrattanakul
Nithiwat ‘Jom’ Wannasiri
Parinya ‘Port’ Cheewinkulpathom
Worravut Thueakchaiyaphum
Chaiyapruek ‘Nui’ Samanrak

21 May 2019

Attachments:

‘#SaveFaiyen #Don’tKillFaiyen’ petition in English and Thai (launched May 19).

Transcript of ‘Message from Faiyen’ calling for help.

‘Save Faiyen’ video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Km2zFZg9Kg&feature=em-comments
Request for urgent assistance for 9 Thai asylum seekers (submitted on 27 January 2019)

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