On International Women’s Day, police officers pressed charges against seven female villagers for opposing a local gold mine.
On 8 March 2016, officers from Wang Saphung Police Station pressed charges against seven villagers for protesting against a local gold mine. The seven were accused of threatening officials and violating NCPO Head Order 3/2015, the junta’s ban on public gatherings of five people or more.
On 16 November last year, Ponthip Hongchai led 150 villagers in a protest at Khao Luang Subdistrict Administration Office where local officials were reviewing a request from Thung Kham Limited, a gold-mining company, to extend its mining license. The protesters urged the office to immediately end the review.
On 18 December, a police officer accused Ponthip and six other female villagers of violating the junta’s ban on public assembly. 16 officials at the administration office also accused the six of coercing them into cancelling the review.
The seven will be summoned again on 30 March to hear whether prosecutors will indict them.
Seven villagers are summoned at Wang Saphung Police Station
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