Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following announcement on a panel at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on human rights defenders, to be held this 21 January 2009.

Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong

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PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-FPR-005-2009

A Forwarded Press Release by the Working Group on Justice for Peace (Thailand)

THAILAND: "Unarmed heroes", human rights defenders in Thailand

FCCT panel on 21 January 2008
10 am – 11:30 am

While Thailand is steadily progressing economically and many more are enjoying growing prosperity, this progress does not extend to all regions and people of the country. Minority groups and other marginalized people continue to face insecurity and suffer at times severe human rights violations. In this light, Working Group on Justice for Peace would like to initiate a discussion on the human rights situation in Thailand, questioning whether the situation is improving. Has there been any recognizable progress in the promotion and protection of human rights? Has there been any effort to support and protect human rights defenders? This event will bring together many of the few brave individuals who spend their lives defending the rights of those left in silence and suffering. The audience will include human rights defenders from the South, North and Northeast and Central Bangkok who will share their experiences in the field, including Angkhana Neelaphaijit. WGJP will also launch their latest report on the situation of Human Rights Defenders at this event.

Speakers:
Dr. Vitit Munthaborn – Professor of Law at Chulalongkorn University
Mrs. Yaena Salaemaeh -- HRD, Tak Bai defenders
Mr. Sila Jahae – HRD, Lahu Association
Ms. Sukkriyah Baheh -- HRD, Youth Volunteers to Stop Violence

Moderator: Diana Sarosi – WGJP
Translator: Puttanee Kangkun – WGJP

Location:

Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.