VoA - News Tuesday 2nd September, 2014 <\/p>\n
Organizers explaining reasons to cancel event shortly before police officers arrived with the formal request. x Organizers explaining reasons to cancel event shortly before police officers arrived with the formal request. <\/p>\n
As organizers were explaining to reporters why they felt it prudent to cancel a human rights panel discussion and delay the release of a report on freedoms, police officers entered the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand. <\/p>\n
A policeman handed copies of what was termed a request for cooperation from the 1st Calvalry Division of the King's Guard, acting on behalf of the National Council for Peace and Order. <\/p>\n
A policeman told the three panelists from Amnesty International, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and the Cross Cultural Foundation he has a personal copy of the letter - which had earlier been faxed to the Foreign Correspondents' Club - for each of them. The letter asked them not to hold the human rights event. <\/p>\n
Martial law was declared in Thailand two days before the May 22 coup and remains in effect. There are restrictions on any meetings considered of a political nature or activities deemed critical of the junta. Freedom of the press has been restricted. <\/p>\n
Pawinee Chumsri, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, (center) displays for photographers her copy of the letter received from police. x Pawinee Chumsri, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, (center) displays for photographers her copy of the letter received from police. <\/p>\n
Pawinee Chumsri, with the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, says in light of the situation it was deemed prudent to comply with the authorities' request to stop the event. <\/p>\n
Pawinee says the groups consider the call to cancel the event a violation of their freedom of expression and the right of citizens to receive information about the human rights situation in the country. <\/p>\n
She promised the report on human rights in Thailand would be released by other means in the near future. <\/p>\n
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\nHuman Rights Groups Allege Supression of Freedoms in Thailand<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"