Thailand Police arrest Blind and other Disabled Demonstrators

As I informed earlier, a big crowd of PWDs, mainly members of Thailand Association of the Blind, gathered peacefully from 6:00-1:00 AM on Friday December 2 near a train track (less than 100 meters from the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability: APCD) to call for change in the government policy on lottery which has treated disabled and poor people like slave labor. After waiting for any positive sign from the Thai authority, the demonstrator decided to block the train track from 10:30 AM. During an hour and a half of no train traffic, lots of attempts were made from TAB, acting on behalf of the demonstrators, to call for peaceful negotiation and to prevent unnecessary use of violent force. I have to report with my saddest feeling that the government did not choose a peaceful solution, but to order hundreds of police officers to stop the demonstrators by force. The historic moment took place at 12 PM (noon) local time. Many blind leaders, including staffs and volunteers of TAB, were arrested and faced with criminal charges.

As president of TAB, I would like to inform all of us that we will not give up on this matter. We will fight with pride and dignity in order to prove our determination until we win this just battle, including in the court of justice.

May peace be with all of us,

Thian

" I've given up on giving up."
Monthian Buntan
Servant of the Blind
Tel: +66-2-246-2287
Fax: +66-2-246-2278
Mobile: +66-1-870-0783
E-mail: <m_buntan@tab.or.th> or <m_buntan@yahoo.com>