Published on June 24, 2005

Religious groups say state support for capitalism overshadows activists' lives

The parade of human rights protectors’ deaths under the Thaksin administration are the result of misguided government policies in pursuit of capitalism, religious groups said.

During the seminar “From Somchai Neelapaijit, Charoen Wat-aksorn to Phra Supoj Suvajano, Who is Next?”, at the October 14 Monument, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim representatives discussed the disturbing circumstances surrounding the deaths of the three men who had fought for human rights or environmental protection.

Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa, a Buddhist representative, said the environmental and human rights activists had died because of the government’s policies of stressing economic development and “making people believe that money is god”.

“Influential people make money and power at all costs. Every fibre of Thai society is dominated by capitalism – from the small to the super-powerful,’’ he said.

Sulak said Phra Supoj had been killed because he attempted to block influential people who wanted to exploit the country’s natural resources. “If this government is sincere, it must punish the murderers quickly.”

To prevent further deaths of those who want to protect natural resources, the government must set up an agency to tackle the problem directly, he added.

Phra Kittisak Kittisophano, a monk who lives at the Mettadhamma Forest Sanctuary Dhamma Centre in Chiang Mai’s Fang district – where monk Phra Supoj was stabbed to death on Friday – said Phra Supoj had endured death threats for more than three years.

His requests to police and state officials for protection fell on deaf ears. “It is frightening that the state mechanism has become paralysed and concerned officials ignore their responsibility to protect monks who live unarmed and cannot protect themselves,’’ he said.

He called on the media to cover the story of the monk without fear of influence and said the government should make the culprits stand trial.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he had ordered police to handle the case straightforwardly and without fear of outside influence.

Thaksin defended the police who have investigated Charoen’s year-old murder case, saying the probe has not progressed because they have had trouble finding evidence.

He said the Special Investigation Department had taken over the case.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation

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