第13回国際タイ研究会議(ICTS13)をめぐる緊急事態について

シドニー大学のフィリップ・ハーシュ先生から、先日チェンマイで開催された第13回国際タイ研究会議(ICTS13)に関する緊急署名のお知らせが届きました。

国際タイ学会の主催者に対してタイ政府より5人以上の集会を開いたことに対する出頭命令がきました。Prof. Philip Hirschより、学会参加者に対して学術への弾圧を辞めるようにとの共同声明に署名してほしいとのメールが送信されています。24時間以内の返信を求めておりますので、よろしければご協力ください。

昨年1年間お世話になったCESD(チェンマイ大学少数民族研究所)所長のチャヤン先生が入っているセッションの発表者がその対象になっているようです。24時間以内のとりまとめということで、ハーシュ先生が動いていらっしゃいます。ICTS13参加者以外の方でもタイに関連する研究をされている方であれば、アピール力が十分にあると思いますので、どうかよろしくお願いいたします。

なお、このメールは日本時間8月17日(木)14:10頃にハーシュ先生からICTS参加者に向けて発信されたものです。

どうか拡散をお願いします。

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Statement by participants at the 13th International Conference on Thai Studies on the Summons and accusations against fellow participants

We the undersigned express our alarm and dismay at the Summons issued by Col Suebsakul Buarawong, deputy commander of the 33rd Military Circle in Chiang Mai, to Dr Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, Pakawadee Veerapatpong, Chaipong Samnieng, Nontawat Machai, and Thiramon Bua-ngam. They are accused of violating the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief's Order No.3/2015, Thailand’s military regime's ban on political gatherings of five or more persons. Conviction on the charges issued against these five scholars carries a potential one year in prison.

The International Conference on Thai Studies is the main international scholarly forum for presentation and discussion of research on Thailand. It has been held every three years since 1981, hosted by universities in Thailand, Australia, China, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. In July 2017 the conference was hosted by Chiang Mai University and achieved a record turnout of 1224 participants. The conference was a resounding success. It was marred only by the intimidating presence of uniformed and non-uniformed security personnel.

The intimidating presence of security personnel at ICTS13 and more generally at scholarly events is in direct contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is a party. It also contravenes the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Thailand has also signed, and which guarantees academic freedom.

We call on the military government of Thailand to:

1. Immediately withdraw the summons and implied charges against Dr Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, Ms Pakawadee Veerapatpong, Mr Chaipong Samnieng, Mr Nontawat Machai, and Mr Thiramon Bua-ngam.
2. Cease forthwith the intimidation of academics and students in their conduct of scholarly teaching, research, public discussion and debate, on- and off-campus.
3. Cease the restriction of free and open discussion on pressing issues of concern to the wider Thai public, in line with Thailand’s international commitments.

Dated Saturday 19 August

Signed by:

Title Name Institution/workplace Nationality

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Philip Hirsch | Emeritus Professor of Human Geography
School of Geosciences
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Mailing address: 224 Mu 5, Tambon Nong Khwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand

T +66-65-5589040 | E philip.hirsch@sydney.edu.au