---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Request to withdraw terrorism & other untrue charges against Union & PAD leaders and supports
From: aguinaldo_rodrigo@itf.org.uk
Date: Fri, July 17, 2009 9:40 am
To: thaimnl@pacific.net.ph
Cc: webmaster@opm.go.th
itfthai@asiaaccess.net.th
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H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya
Ambassador to the Philippines
Royal Thai Embassy
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya,
I am the ITF Inspector of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), an affiliate of the International Transport Workersโ€ Federation, which represents over five million union members in the transport industry worldwide. We are very concerned about the summons issued by the Thai police against trade union leaders & PAD supporters. Charges being made appear to be in connection to the non-violent protests that resulted in the occupation and closure of the airport last year.
According to reliable reports, no physical damage was caused by the airport occupation yet, charges that include invasion & destruction of property, inciting unrest & most concerning terrorism which carries a death penalty, have been leveled against them. We believe that theses charges are bloated & exaggerated. The grenade throwing incident and only violent incident was not carried out by PAD supporters, but by supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra.
From the information we have received, police have acted against a number of trade union leaders and 30 leading members of the Peopleโ€s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on these charges. Many of the union leaders summonsed are from ITF affiliated-organisations. They are Bro. Somsak Kosaisook (former president and present advisor of the State Railway Workers Union of Thailand), Bro Sawit Kaewwarn (President of the State Railway Workers Union of Thailand) Sis. Chamsri Sukchotirat (President of Thai Airways International Union) and Bro. Sirichai Mai-ngam (President of the Electricity Generating Authority State Enterprise Workersโ€ Union).
The ITF fully supports the rights of its members to engage in legitimate and peaceful protest action and would urgently request you to make representations with your Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to quash these shocking allegations and withdraw the charges made.
I hope that you will agree with me, Ambassador Singhara Na Ayudhaya, not only that these charges are disproportionate in nature, but also that a priority of any government must be to foster positive industrial relations.
I would be very grateful to hear your comments on the matter.
Yours sincerely,
Rodrigo Aguinaldo
ITF Inspector, Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 (0)2 536 8287
Fax: +63 (0)2 536 8286
Mobile: +63 (0)917 811 1763
Subject: Request to withdraw terrorism & other untrue charges against Union & PAD leaders and supports
From: aguinaldo_rodrigo@itf.org.uk
Date: Fri, July 17, 2009 9:40 am
To: thaimnl@pacific.net.ph
Cc: webmaster@opm.go.th
itfthai@asiaaccess.net.th
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya
Ambassador to the Philippines
Royal Thai Embassy
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya,
I am the ITF Inspector of the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), an affiliate of the International Transport Workersโ€ Federation, which represents over five million union members in the transport industry worldwide. We are very concerned about the summons issued by the Thai police against trade union leaders & PAD supporters. Charges being made appear to be in connection to the non-violent protests that resulted in the occupation and closure of the airport last year.
According to reliable reports, no physical damage was caused by the airport occupation yet, charges that include invasion & destruction of property, inciting unrest & most concerning terrorism which carries a death penalty, have been leveled against them. We believe that theses charges are bloated & exaggerated. The grenade throwing incident and only violent incident was not carried out by PAD supporters, but by supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra.
From the information we have received, police have acted against a number of trade union leaders and 30 leading members of the Peopleโ€s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on these charges. Many of the union leaders summonsed are from ITF affiliated-organisations. They are Bro. Somsak Kosaisook (former president and present advisor of the State Railway Workers Union of Thailand), Bro Sawit Kaewwarn (President of the State Railway Workers Union of Thailand) Sis. Chamsri Sukchotirat (President of Thai Airways International Union) and Bro. Sirichai Mai-ngam (President of the Electricity Generating Authority State Enterprise Workersโ€ Union).
The ITF fully supports the rights of its members to engage in legitimate and peaceful protest action and would urgently request you to make representations with your Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to quash these shocking allegations and withdraw the charges made.
I hope that you will agree with me, Ambassador Singhara Na Ayudhaya, not only that these charges are disproportionate in nature, but also that a priority of any government must be to foster positive industrial relations.
I would be very grateful to hear your comments on the matter.
Yours sincerely,
Rodrigo Aguinaldo
ITF Inspector, Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 (0)2 536 8287
Fax: +63 (0)2 536 8286
Mobile: +63 (0)917 811 1763
