Thai police have threatened environmental activists demanding revocation of recent junta orders to weaken regulations on power plants and industries with the junta’s ban on political gatherings. Meanwhile the activists have vowed to persevere with their rally despite the risk of arrest.

Police from Nanglerng Police Station in Bangkok on Wednesday, 24 February 2016, issued a letter banning a protest by an environmental group called the People’s Network for Sustainable Development (PNSD) which was planned for 25-28 February in front of the United Nations headquarters in Bangkok.

Earlier the group submitted a request to the authorities for permission to organise the symbolic protest in front of the UN headquarters against National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Orders No. 3/2016 and 4/2016.

NCPO Order No. 3/2016 exempts the construction of buildings in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) from the regulatory framework of the 1975 Town and City Planning Act and other regulations on buildings. The order also takes away from local government the authority to impose regulations on construction in SEZs.    

Similarly, NCPO Order No. 4/2016 exempts all kinds of power plants, water treatment plants, garbage disposal and collection plants, recycling plants, and gas processing plants from regulations under the Town and City Planning Act.

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, issued both orders on 20 January, using his authority under Section 44 of the Interim Constitution, which gives him and security officers absolute power to maintain national security.

The police letter reads “the assembly is not permitted because NCPO Order 3/2016 and 4/2016 are laws according to Section 44 of the Interim Charter. Therefore, the planned assembly to call for the revocation of these laws is a political assembly, which violates NCPO Announcement 7/2014.”

Prasitichai Nunuan, a representative of the environmental group, said that the ban is unjust because the assembly was not political.

“What our network is doing is guaranteed under Article 4 of the current constitution on the dignity of human beings and international principles. Therefore, it is still our right to campaign,” said Prasitichai.

Somnuek Jongmeewasin, another member of the PNSD, said that the goal of the network is to protect the rights of communities and natural resources.

On 23 and 24 February, the PNSD gathered in front of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines and the UN headquarters in Bangkok after submitting a letter on 4 February to urge the authorities to reconsider the NCPO Orders, but there has been no response from the authorities.

Representatives of the group said that they will continue to campaign against NCPO Orders No. 3/2016 and 4/2016.