The Songkhla Provincial Court has granted bail to 15 anti-coal protesters detained in the wake of Monday's clash with police in Songkhla.
The court approved the release on bail Wednesday of the 15 protesters after six lecturers from Prince of Songkla University and Thaksin University offered to use their academic positions as bail bonds.
The decision was welcomed by relatives and locals waiting outside the court.
On Tuesday, the protesters were unable to secure bail because they did not have the money to pay it. The bail amount came to 1.35 million baht in total, or 90,000 baht each. They were detained at Songkhla Central Prison.
- EDITORIAL: Drop the charges immediately
One other protester, aged 16, was released on bail of 5,000 baht by the Songkhla Juvenile and Family Court on Tuesday.
The anti-coal protesters were arrested on Monday after clashing with authorities in Songkhla province. About 500 people walked from Thepha district to submit a letter of protest to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was visiting the province for a mobile cabinet meeting in Muang district, but they were stopped by police, which led to the clash.
Police charged all 16 protesters with obstructing traffic, resisting and harming authorities, and carrying weapons. They denied the charges.
Before the protesters were released on bail, a network of academics in the South held a media briefing condemning the use of force by authorities against the protesters as a violation of human rights.
The group called on the government to drop the charges against the protesters and grant them unconditional bail.
"We insist on people's freedom of expression and peaceful gatherings without weapons guaranteed by the constitution. The Songkhla People's Network against the Coal-fired Power Plant has the right to oppose the power plant at Thepha," the group said.
The activists also urged the government to halt the coal-fired plant project in Thepha district to stop the conflict from getting out of hand.
Banjong Nasae, president of Thai Sea Watch Association, said the protesters will countersue authorities for using force against them during Monday's clash if authorities launch legal proceedings against them.
Also Wednesday, a group of students at Rangsit University shared a message on social networks calling on students at other universities to join them in walking from Nang Loeng Race Course to Government House on Thursday to demand the unconditional release of the 15 protesters and for the government to halt all coal-fired plant construction projects.
The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia also called on the government Wednesday to drop the charges against the protesters.
"Peaceful protests are an integral part of democratic societies to ensure accountability and public participation," said the South-East Asia Regional Representative for the UN Human Rights Office, Cynthia Veliko.
In recent years, the UN Human Rights Office has received reports of intimidation by authorities and companies against community members and activists who peacefully oppose development initiatives due to environmental, health and livelihood concerns, she said.
"Community members and activists in Thailand have increasingly been killed, physically attacked, legally charged under criminal defamation, and are also prevented from peacefully demonstrating or participating in public discussions related to development projects, the office said, adding that these developments are contrary to Thailand's commitments made on the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
"It is essential the government take necessary steps to ensure public consultations are undertaken consistently and in a good faith, and that free, prior and informed consent of the affected communities are obtained in a meaningful manner as guaranteed by the Constitution of Thailand," she stressed.
"We urge the authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and opinion, and to protect the physical integrity and safety of community members and human rights defenders in line with Thailand's commitment under international human rights laws," Ms Veliko added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday brushed aside accusations of human rights violations, saying this was a matter of law enforcement. Gen Prawit insisted public hearings had shown the majority of local residents supported the project.
Meanwhile, Internal Security Operations Command spokesman Peerawat Saengthong yesterday said that Tuesday's announcement in the Royal Gazette to extend the Internal Security Act in five districts of the lower South had nothing to with the anti-coal demonstration.