FACTpetition: 20 million workers sign to Free Somyot-ICEM
July 3, 2012
In partnership with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions, a global union federation representing 20 million workers organized in 355 industrial trade unions in 115 countries
SIGN THE PETITION!
http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1383
Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a trade unionist, activist and journalist in Thailand has been in jail since April 2011 on charges of lèse majesté. The charges allege that he has defamed the King by publishing two articles in the magazine he edited, The Voice of Thaksin. Somyot is innocent of these charges, a position supported by expert witnesses and human rights organisations. An international campaign has been underway for the last 12 months to secure his release, which has included demonstrations across the region and a hunger strike by Somyot’s son, Tai, for 122 hours earlier this year. The campaign is supported by a number of international and national trade unions and human rights organisations, including the IFJ, ICEM, Article 19 and the National Human Rights Commission in Thailand.
Somyot is now in the last week of hearings and we are concerned that a fair trial takes place. He has been denied bail nine times and is experiencing extraordinarily harsh conditions. Thai trade unions will hold a demonstration outside Parliament and the UN delegation in Bangkok on the 30th April.
FACT - Freedom Against Censorship Thailand 
July 4, 2012 at 7:12
Actually … it’s closed. You cannot sign. About 5500 people signed. Not 20 million. I signed 3 times over the past couple of years. The petition keeps popping up with different names, making me think it’s a new petition. My name is only on the petition once, even though I’ve mistakenly signed it three times.
Obviously the only ones paying any attention at all to the petition are the people signing it. To the Royal Thai Governments … Democrat … Phuea Thai … makes no difference, Somyout is a non-person. An object of fetish abuse. A chicken to kill to scare us monkeys.
The Royal Thai Government despises us all and, in the midst of Yet Another Judicial Coup, has no time for monkeys or chickens.