Cops target 'We Walk' activists
published : 7 Feb 2018 at 04:00
newspaper section: News
writer: Saiarun Pinaduang
Police in Phayao took 14 activists involved in the "We Walk" anti-government campaign to court yesterday.
The activists are members of the People Go Network, that launched a 450-kilometre march known as "We Walk" to air their grievances with the government for allegedly failing to address problems with natural resources, food security, medical welfare and freedom of expression.
Police arrested the 14 activists on Monday. Around six local police reportedly arrived at the house of one of the activists, saying the group did not inform authorities before conducting their activities.
Eleven of the activists are members of a farmers' group and the others students.
The farmers' group reportedly told police they joined the march because they had been oppressed by local, powerful landlords who charged them with trespassing on private property, despite their claims that the land actually belongs to them.
According to the source, all 14 activists denied the charges against them.
The source added around seven uniformed military officers later turned up.
Police yesterday transferred the 14 activists' case to local lawyers, where a prosecution request against them will be reviewed.
The march, which started at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani and ends in Khon Kaen, is set to end on Feb 17.
