Ford Tattep, a youth activist and alumni of Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of Political Science, was charged by police for violating the Emergency Decree for joining a protest demanding justice for victims of enforced disappearance.
A post on an activist Facebook page reveals more details about the charges:
“Who abducted Wanchalerm — the state claimed it does not know. But what we know is that the state is now charging our youths! A subpoena has been sent to Ford Tattep, a new graduate from the Faculty of Political Science Chulalongkorn University from Wang Thonglang Police station, claiming that he violated the emergency decree on the day he demanded justice for Wanchalerm in front of the Cambodian embassy.”
“The state must stop stuffing charges against our youths, our friends, our brothers and sisters!” the post continues, “This is clear evidence that the state has prolonged the emergency decree only to exploit and prevent protests or any government succession from happening.”
“Are we being governed by a dictatorship cloaked under a democratic regime? If the state continues to not acknowledge its citizens, not too long will the people rise and demand for a return to justice.”
The activist announced on his personal Twitter that a subpoena was sent to his home as well.
“I have been charged with the emergency decree, my aunt confirmed that there was an issue sent to my house. This is just for the reason that I demanded justice for the victims of enforced disappeacance. #SaveWanchalerm”
Soon, the hashtag #saveทัตเทพ (#SaveTattep) started trending on Twitter.
In a post on Sunday, Ford wrote:
“What they are doing to us now, they have done before, which is to create fear. But if we were to really feel fear, then it would mean that they have succeeded. So we have to choose, should we really feel the fear, or not?”
