Seven embattled student activists from Thailand’s Northeast met UN and British Embassy staff to discuss their legal struggle and the human rights situation under the military government.  

The seven are members of a renowned student activist group based in Khon Kaen University, the Dao Din Group, who have been charged with defying the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s Order No. 7/2014, which prohibits a political gathering of more than five persons, for holding activity to commemorate the 2014 coup d’état on 22 May.

If found guilty, group members could face one year in jail term or a 20,000 baht fine or both.

Dao Din student activists meet UN representatives on 15 June 2015

On Monday morning, the activist group met Yu Kanosue, Human Rights Officer of the Regional Office for South-East Asia, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The group was told that the UN agency has been closely following the Dao Din case because the charges against the Dao Din group are a violation of basic human rights.

The UN representative added that the UN had already submitted a letter to the NCPO on the matter.

On Tuesday morning, the seven also met with representatives of the British Embassy in Bangkok.

Embassy staff told the group that they will closely monitor the situation concerning the group and that together with the European Union (EU), they will issue a statement that the Thai military’s actions against Dao Din violate basic human rights.

British Embassy staff added that they will mention the group in discussions with the military government.