Following the recent political upheaval in Thailand, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a well-known and respected human rights advocate was arrested. Somyot is held in military barracks without getting charged since May 24th. Labour rights organisations worldwide are seriously concerned about his health and safety.
Following the recent political upheaval in Thailand, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a well-known and respected human rights advocate was arrested. Somyot is founder of the Center for Labour and International Solidarity Thailand (CLIST) and founder of the Center for Labour and International Solidarity Thailand (CLIST). Somyot worked with the international Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) on numerous campaigns and Urgent Appeals.
Somyot is a former project coordinator for ICEM (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions) in Thailand. The CCC has joined ICEM in calling upon partners and supporters around
the world to write to the Thai prime minister and to Thai embassies in
their countries to call for his immediate release. Labour rights organisations worldwide are seriously concerned about his health and safety. Join this action.
Somyot was arrested together with Associate Professor Suthachai Yimprasert, after they presented themselves to the police when they heard of their arrest warrants. Suthachai was released yesterday following petitions by students and the faculty. Although they had been following events closely in their capacity as journalists and academics, neither of them are members of the Red Shirt core group.
According to the latest information spread by CCC Somyot is being held at Adisorn Army Base in Saraburi, 115km North of the capital Bangkok. Reportedly, the Criminal Court agreed with the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Friday May 28th to extend the detention of Somyot for another seven days, and that in violation of international human rights standards and national judicial law, no charges were pressed against them, and no proper inquiry session has been arranged during his detention. We understand that Somyot is held in solitary detention and made to wear military clothing.
