2009

annual report
Peopleʼs Empowerment Foundation (PEF),
2009

1/546 Nuan Chan Road

Klongkum, Bungkum, Bangkok 10230
Thailand

Phone/fax: (+66) 2 946 6104

Email: info@peoplesempowerment.org
Website: http://www.peoplesempowerment.org
Director’s
Message

Dear
friends
and
partners,

People’s
Empowerment
Foundation
(PEF)
is
a
small
national
NGO
working
with
grassroots
people’s

organizations
in
Thailand.

Established
in
2006,
we
began
our
projects
in
2007
after
initial
support

from
Open
Society
Institute,
who
we
thank
for
trusting
in
our
work
and
giving
us
a
chance
to
start.


PEF’s
philosophy
is
rooted
in
a
belief
in
the
ability
of
people’s
power
to
change
society.

Our
mission

is
to
strengthen
grassroots
organizations
in
Thailand
through
a
strategy
of
fostering
people
to

people
(P2P)
connections
and
conducting
close
consultations
with
communities.

We
play
our
role
in

acting
as
the
facilitator
in
bringing
people
together.

In
our
Nirst
year,
we
focused
on
Southern
Thailand
issues
because
of
the
serious
human
rights

violations
taking
place
in
the
border
provinces.

Through
our
activities
we
gained
a
lot
of
trust
from

the
people
and
still
keep
good
relationships
with
our
Malay
Muslim
brothers
and
sisters.
They
are

one
of
our
strong
partner
organizations
that
have
been
with
us
until
now.

Southern
Thailand
is
still

one
of
our
priorities.

We
have
begun
our
women
and
youth
income‐generating
program
and
hope
to

organize
an
exchange
program
between
Southern
Thailand
people
and
Acehnese,
Mindanao
and
Sri

Lankan
people
to
share
the
wisdom,
understanding,
and
experiences
of
conNlict
management
and

peace
building.

From
our
beliefs
and
experiences,
the
conNlict
can
transform
into
peace
through

wisdom.

In
our
2nd
and
3rd
years,
we
focused
on
ASEAN
because
Thailand
was
the
chair
for
one
and
a
half

years.

After
40
years,
ASEAN
has
had
to
change,
and
there
have
been
many
new
mechanisms

established,
including
the
ASEAN
Charter,
3
community
blueprints,
the
ASEAN
Intergovernmental

Commission
on
Human
Rights,
the
ASEAN
Commission
for
Women
and
Children,
and
the
ASEAN

Committee
on
Migrant
Workers.

With
these
changes,
we
took
the
opportunity
to
educate
Thai

people
in
10
sub‐regions
throughout
Thailand
about
ASEAN.

After
2
years
working
on
ASEAN,
we

now
have
a
strong
ASEAN
grassroots
network
in
Thailand.

We
now
plan
to
set
up
a
people’s

mechanism
at
the
national
level
to
monitor
ASEAN‘s
performance.

This
will
be
our
long‐term
issue,

as
people
have
realized
that
regional
and
global
policies
have
a
big
impact
on
common
lives
of
the

people.

We
will
also
work
in
solidarity
with
the
ASEAN
people
in
other
countries,
as
ASEAN
belongs

to
the
560
million
ASEAN
people,
not
only
10‐11
leaders.

People’s
Empowerment
Foundation
also
works
on
cross‐border
projects
to
build
up
trust
and
good

relationships
between
Thai
people
and
people
of
neighboring
countries,
particularly
Burma,

Cambodia,
and
Laos.

In
the
next
year
we
will
be
involved
with
a
Thai‐Khmer
reconciliation
project

and
Rohingya
boat
people
advocacy
campaign.


We
will
continue
to
support
refugees
and
migrant

workers
and
will
support
a
people
exchange
program
between
Thailand
and
Laos
in
the
future.


Our
newest
program
focuses
on
Thai
Democracy.

Confusions
about
democracy
in
Thailand
made
us

initiate
a
project
to
promote
discussions
and
deeper
understandings
of
the
concept
of
democracy

and
such
concepts
as
rule
of
law;
rights,
freedoms
and
equality;
good
governance;
and
people’s

participation.

A
handbook
of
people’s
democracy
will
be
published
and
distributed
to
people
in
the

second
year
and
will
bring
the
people’s
concepts
into
the
serious
discussion
on
the
ground.

Besides
working
with
the
people,
we
engage
with
government
to
bring
the
voice
and
demands
of
the

grassroots
people
to
be
heard
at
decision‐making
levels.

We
monitor
and
critique
government

implementation
wit
a
positive
approach
and
get
high
recognition
from
the
government.






1
Next
year,
we
will
continue
to
work
on
the
same
4
program
areas,
improving
strategic

implementation
and
increasing
outreach
to
ensure
the
conNidence
of
the
partners.

We
plan
to

transition
partners
to
being
more
independent
in
thought
and
implementation
for
a
strong
people’s

movement.



People’s
Empowerment
Foundation
would
like
to
thank
all
partners
and
donors
who
believe
in
and

support
our
work.

With
sincerity,
solidarity,
and
full
trust
in
people’s
power,

Chalida
Tajaroensuk

Director,
People’s
Empowerment
Foundation

December
2009







2
ORGANIZATION
PROFILE
Who
We
Are

People’s
Empowerment
Foundation
(PEF)
is
a
registered

independent
non‐governmental
organization
that
was

established
in
2006
to
address
the
needs
of
grassroots

civil
society
networks
in
Thailand.

PEF
acts
as
the

secretariat
for
a
coalition
of
community‐based

organizations
(CBOs)
and
maintains
close
working

relationships
with
other
partner
organizations
and

networks
within
the
country
and
throughout
Southeast

Asia.

Our
mission
is
to
create
sustainable
mechanisms
for

individual
actors,
community
organizations,
grassroots

coalitions
and
civil
society
movements
to
work
together

for
peace,
social
justice,
human
rights,
and
democracy.

Our
objectives
are:
• To
increase
the
organizational
capacity
of
civil

society
networks
and
CBOs
in
Thailand;
• To
facilitate
direct
“people‐to‐people”
engagement

between
various
community
networks
and

organizations
to
enhance
mutual
understanding

and
encourage
cooperative
social
action.

What
We
Believe

PEF
believes
in
peace,
social
and
environmental
justice,

human
rights,
human
security,
and
democracy
for
all,

regardless
of
race,
ethnicity,
national
origin,
gender,
or

religion,
and
we
believe
that
these
goals
cannot
be

achieved
without
sustained
civic
engagement
at
the

grassroots
community
level.

We
believe
that
cooperation,
knowledge
sharing,
and

mutual
support
among
community‐based
organizations

and
grassroots
networks
are
essential
for
sustaining
a

strong
and
vibrant
civil
society
capable
of
advancing
the

needs
and
concerns
of
the
most
marginalized
people
in

the
country
and
region.

What
We
Do

Our
organization
works
to
promote
a
wide
range
of

human
rights
and
human
security
issues
throughout

Thailand
and
Southeast
Asia
by
serving
as
a
network

through
which
partner
organizations
can
share

knowledge,
strategies,
and
resources
to
work
together
for


3
positive
social
change.


Internship Program
In
addition
to
providing

horizontal
links
between
 In 2009, PEF hosted three interns, who contributed to a variety of
different
grassroots
 projects while learning several aspects of our organization’s work. Two
summer interns, one from Thammasat University’s summer internship
partners,
we
maintain

program and an independent intern from Chulalongkorn University, were
working
relationships
with
 able to supplement their formal education in Political Science with practical
regional
and
international
 experience in the non-profit sector. Our current intern comes from
organizations
and
provide
 Gwanju, South Korea as a volunteer with the May18 Memorial Foundation
vertical
channels
for
civil
 internship program. In addition to helping us with project tasks, he has
society
to
engage
with
 played a key role in strengthening our relationship with his home country
public
ofNicials
at
the
 foundation. All interns have contributed to the everyday work and overall
national,
regional,
and
 development of our young organization, and in the future, we plan to
international
levels. provide more internship opportunities to Thai students as well as
international volunteers in hopes of inspiring more young people to
How
We
Work pursue careers in advancing human rights, human security, peace, and
democracy.
We
work
to
increase
the

internal
organizational

capacity
of
civil
society

networks
and
community‐based
organizations
in
Thailand
by
providing
them
with

information,
skills
training,
capacity
building
tools,
logistical
coordination,
and
other

assistance
adapted
to
each
group’s
particular
needs.

To
best
provide
such
services,
we
carry

out
Nield
visits
to
partner
communities
on
a
regular
basis,
studying
conditions
on
the
ground

and
learning
about
peoples’
most
pressing
needs.

All
projects
are
developed
out
of
these

needs
and
through
close
collaboration
with
local
communities.

We
facilitate
direct
engagement
between
various
community
networks
and
organizations
by

applying
our
People‐to‐People
(P2P)
action
approach,
in
which
grassroots
partners
are

provided
with
the
opportunity
to
share
knowledge,
develop
common
agendas,
and
strategize

on
social
action.

Examples
include
community
learning
exchange
programs,
solidarity

workshops,
cross‐border
civil
society
exchanges,
and
people’s
monitoring
of
ASEAN

developments.

4
Organizational Structure
Board:
• Mr. Suraporn Chaicharn of the Northeastern Community Network, President
• Mrs. Pratueng Chuaykliang of the Training and Development Center for Women, First Vice President
• Mr. Siripong Taleb of the Southern Thailand Network, Second Vice President
• Mr. Tongbai Singseeta of the Organic Farm Network of Central Thailand, Committee Member
• Mr. Prasarn Praditsopon of the Community Radio Network, Committee Member
• Mrs. Chalida Tajaroensuk, Secretary
• Ms. Uracha Chatikanon, Treasurer
Staff
• Chalida Tajaroensuk, Director
• Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn, Program Manager
• Pei Palmgren, International Development Officer
• Kulnipa Panton, Program Officer
• Ontira Amatavivat, ASEAN Program Officer
• Patcharee Sae-eaw, Democracy Program Officer
• Uracha Chatikanon, Finance Officer

5
 PROGRAMS
& ACTIVITIES
1. ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY
With its new charter, three regional community blueprints, and newly established monitoring mechanisms, including the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has purported to be a
“people-centered” institution dedicated to a peaceful, democratic, prosperous and “caring and sharing” region. Recognizing new
opportunities for expanded people participation in ASEAN affairs, PEF has been involved in ongoing efforts to strengthen Thai civil
society’s engagement with ASEAN, with particular focus on grassroots communities. In 2009, we implemented several activities to
strengthen such engagement, building on the progress made through our ASEAN national process held in several sub-regions of
Thailand the previous year.

Karen
community
forum
on
ASEAN

January
29,
2009
Suan
Pueng
community,
Ratchaburi

Following
our
2008
Thai
national
process
on
ASEAN,
the
Suan
Pueng
Karen
community

requested
our
assistance
in
educating
community
members
about
the
ASEAN
framework.


During
the
meeting,
several
participants
discussed
problems
and
concerns
existing
in
their

community,
including
a
dearth
of
employment
opportunities
and
the
various
insecurities

experienced
by
those
without
national
identiNication
cards,
while
PEF
staff
linked
the

discussion
of
local
issues
to
ASEAN
structures
and
processes.

Local
military
ofNicers
working

in
the
community
also
participated
in
the
forum,
contributing
to
a
respectful
dialogue

between
the
groups
as
they
exchanged
perspectives
on
local
problems.

Subsequently,
Karen

community
leaders
participated
in
the
ASEAN
Peoples’
Forums
/
ASEAN
Civil
Society

Conferences
that
took
place
in
Bangkok
(February)
and
Cha‐am
(October).

One
leader
was

also
a
participant
in
our
Thai‐Indonesian
civil
society
exchange
(described
below).

ASEAN
Peoples’
Forum
/
ASEAN
Civil
Society
Conference
4

February
20‐22
Chulalongkorn
University,
Bangkok

PEF,
along
with
a
committee
of
civil
society
organizations
from
Thailand
and
throughout

Southeast
Asia,
helped
to
organize
the
ASEAN
People’s
Forum
and
ASEAN
Civil
Society

Conference
4
(APF/ACSC4),
which
was
held
from
20‐22
February
2009
at
Chulalongkorn

University
in
Bangkok
as
a
parallel
gathering
to
the
14th
ASEAN
Summit.

More
than
a

thousand
people
from
all
ASEAN
countries
except
for
Brunei
participated
in
the
APF/ACSC4,

including
135
people
from
PEF’s
grassroots
network.



The
APF,
held
on
the
Nirst
two
days,
was
an
open
forum
consisting
of
plenary
sessions
and

approximately
30
small
workshops
focusing
on
particular
issues
related
to
peace
and
human

security,
and
socio‐cultural
and
socio‐economic
dimensions
of
regionalism.

A
civil
society

dialogue
with
Mr.
Surin
Pitsuwan,
Secretary‐General
of
ASEAN
and
Mr.
Kasit
Piromya,
Foreign


6
Affairs
Minister
of
Thailand,
highlighted
the
ACSC4,
which
was
held
on
the
last
day
of
the

gathering.

In
addition
to
bringing
several
of
our
network
partners
to
participate
in
the
event,
PEF
served

as
a
key
organizer
of
the
ACSC4
dialogue
between
civil
society
and
ASEAN
ofNicials,
as
well
as

of
the
half‐hour
civil
society
interface
with
ASEAN
leaders
during
the
14th
ASEAN
Summit.


The
interface,
supported
by
the
Thai
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
the
ASEAN
Secretariat,

served
as
the
start
of
a
mechanism
for
people
to
engage
with
ASEAN
leaders
during,
and

hopefully
after,
Thailand’s
tenure
as
the
ASEAN
Chair.

Importantly,
the
APF/ACSC4
and

interface
were
positive
steps
toward
more
clear
and
concrete
people’s
participation
within
the

ASEAN
framework,
which
PEF
and
other
civil
society
groups
plan
to
maximize
and
enhance
in

the
future.

Thailand
focal
point
for
the
campaign
for
the
establishment
of
an
ASEAN
human
rights

body


Since
August
of
2007,
PEF
has
served
as
the
focal
point
in
Thailand
for
the
Solidarity
for
Asian

People’s
Advocacy
Task
Force
on
ASEAN
and
Human
Rights
(SAPA
TF‐AHR).

With
the
broad

purpose
of
encouraging
ASEAN
accountability
to
international
and
domestic
human
rights

obligations,
the
TF‐AHR
has
been
involved
in
an
ongoing

campaign
for
an
effective
and
accountable
human
rights

mechanism
in
Southeast
Asia.

In
2009,
PEF
worked
to
promote
the
regional
campaign
for

an
ASEAN
human
rights
commission
“with
teeth,”
i.e.,

composed
of
independent
experts
and
including
a

protection
mandate.

In
addition
to
collecting
Thai

signatures
for
Forum‐Asia’s
petition
campaign,
we
held

consultation
meetings
with
grassroots
network
partners
to

write
statements
and
agree
on
9
positions
regarding
initial

drafts
of
the
terms
of
reference
(ToR)
for
the
ASEAN
human

rights
mechanism,
what
is
now
referred
to
as
the
ASEAN

Intergovernmental
Commission
on
Human
Rights
(AICHR).

Parallel
to
our
national
efforts,
PEF
contributed
to
regional

level
advocacy,
including
information
exchanges
and

monitoring
of
the
drafting
process
with
other
members
of
the
TF‐AHR,
participation
in
three

dialogues
with
the
High
Level
Panel
(the
body
responsible
for
drafting
the
ToR),
and
urging

transparency
in
the
selection
process
for
country
representatives
of
the
AICHR.

7
While
PEF
and
other
Southeast
Asian
civil
society
groups
are
disappointed
with
the
absence
of

a
protection
mandate
for
the
AICHR,
we
are
encouraged
that
a
human
rights
body
was

established
in
Southeast
Asia,
and
we
will
continue
to
work
for
its
improvement.

We
are

particularly
pleased
that
the
selection
committee
has
chosen
a
civil
society
representative
as

the
Indonesian
representative
of
the
AICHR,
Mr.
Rafendi
Djamin,
convenor
of
the
SAPA
TF‐
AHR,
and
we
also
welcome
the
appointment
of
an
independent
expert
as
Thailand’s

representative,
Dr.
Sriprapha
Petchmesri.

Furthermore,
we
are
encouraged
that
a
political

declaration
has
been
attached
to
the
AICHR’s
ToR,
stating
intent
to
consider
the
inclusion
of
a

protection
mandate
within
the
next
5
years.

Moving
forward,
PEF
will
continue
working
in

Thailand
to
complement
regional
efforts
in
monitoring
the
implementation
of
the
AICHR.

Thai­Indonesia
civil
society
exchange
program

July
11‐16
Jakarta,
Indonesia

In
July,
PEF
organized
a
Thai‐Indonesian
civil
society
exchange
trip,
during
which
25
people

from
our
grassroots
network,
along
with
members
of
the
Thai
media,
met
with
community

activists,
civil
society
groups,
Indonesian
government
ofNicials
and
the
ASEAN
Secretary‐
General
in
Jakarta.

The
trip
was
organized
to
provide
an
opportunity
for
participants
to
learn

about
social
issues
in
another
Southeast
Asian
country,
to
establish
links
between
Thai
and

Indonesian
civil
society
groups,
and
to
foster
a
better
understanding
of
the
work
of
the
ASEAN

Secretariat.

Participants,
representing
farmer,
ethnic
minority,
LBGT,
labor,
student
and
other
community

groups,
took
part
in
constructive
exchanges
with
civil
society
organizations
and
communities

working
on
human
rights,
environmental
justice,
peasants,
women’s
rights
and
other
issues
in

and
around
Jakarta.

In
addition,
the
Thai
group
participated
in
informal
dialogues
with

Indonesian
government
ofNicials,
members
of
the
Indonesian
National
Commission
on
Human

Rights,
and
ASEAN
Secretary‐General,
Surin
Pitsuwan.



By
providing
participants
with
the
opportunity
to
learn
about
problems
and
goals
of
their

Indonesian
counterparts,
the
trip
contributed
to
the
ongoing
learning
process
of
network

partners
who
have
been
involved
in
our
ASEAN
civil
society
program.

As
we
continue
our

ASEAN
civil
society
activities,
we
will
organize
exchanges
to
other
countries
to
foster


8
solidarity
among
grassroots
groups
in
Southeast
Asia
and
to
enhance
partners’
understanding

of
ASEAN
and
its
member
countries.

Thai
national
consultations
on
the
ASEAN
Socio­Cultural
and
Political
Security
Pillars


September
18,
29‐30
Disabled
People’s
International
(DPI)
and
Student
Christian
Center,
Bangkok

In
preparation
for
the
2nd
ASEAN
Peoples’
Forum
/
5th
ASEAN
Civil
Society
Conference
(APF2/
ACSC5),
several
organizations
in
Thailand
participated
in
national
consultations
on
the
ASEAN

Socio‐Cultural
and
Political
Security
pillars.

PEF
participated
in
both
forums
and
helped
to

develop
content
for
the
consultation
on
the
socio‐cultural
pillar.

Participants
for
both
meetings
included
people
from
Thai
organizations
working
on
various

social,
economic,
and
political
issues,
including
NGO
Coordinating
Committee
on
Development

(NGO‐COD),
Thai
Volunteer
Service
(TVS)
the
ASEAN
Youth
Forum,
International
Network
of

Engaged
Buddhists
(INEB)
and
others,
with
a
total
of
50
participants
at
the
socio‐cultural

consultation
and
20
at
the
political
security.

Speakers
presented
background
information
and

updates
about
ASEAN,
and
attendees
shared
concerns
related
to
themes
from
each
pillar.


Discussion
topics
included
barriers
to
education,
diminishing
land
rights
for
farmers,
growing

unemployment,
problems
faced
by
migrant
workers
and
refugees,
and
violations
of
human

rights
resulting
from
political
unrest
in
several
countries.

Discussions
also
covered
possibilities
for
members
of
Thai
civil
society
to
utilize
the
ASEAN

framework
to
advance
various
socio‐cultural
and
political
agendas
in
the
future.

From
these

meetings,
positions
and
recommendations
to
present
to
the
Thai
government
and
during
the

socio‐cultural
and
political
security
pillar
dialogues
that
were
planned
for
the
APF2/ACSC5

were
agreed
upon.



Small
forums
on
ASEAN

In
October,
PEF
organized
a
handful
of
small
forums
to
provide
essential
background
and

updates
on
ASEAN
to
groups
who
would
be
attending
the
2nd
ASEAN
Peoples’
Forum
/
5th

ASEAN
Civil
Society
Conference.

These
included
forums
for
Rohingya
and
Khmer
Krom

refugees,
community
radio
practitioners,
and
migrant
workers.

Refugee
forum

October
2
PEF
ofNice,
Bangkok

It
is
clear
that
problems
faced
by
refugees
living
in
Thailand,
and
possible
ways
to
address

these
problems,
must
be
considered
in
regional
as
well
as
national
contexts.

Our
Nirst
small

forum
involved
such
discussions
with
a
group
of
Rohingya
and
Khmer
Krom
refugees
living
in

Thailand.

In
addition
to
educating
participants
about
ASEAN,
PEF
facilitated
discussions

about
the
refugees’
most
pressing
problems
in
Thailand,
namely
exploitation
by
government

agents,
fears
of
deportation,
and
constant
economic
insecurity.

Participants
then
formulated

solutions
to
propose
to
the
Thai
and
Burmese
governments
as
well
as
to
ASEAN.

Suggestions

include
legal
registration
and
expanded
rights
in
Thailand,
Burmese
government
recognition


9
of
nationality
for
the
Rohingya,
and
for
ASEAN
to
play
a
more
active
role
in
promoting

democracy
in
Burma
and
protecting
the
rights
of
refugees
in
all
ASEAN
countries.



Those
present
demonstrated
their
ability
to
see
links
between
their
immediate
issues
and

regional
processes,
knowledge
that
they
will
be
able
to
pass
on
to
others
in
their
community.


In
addition,
clear
positions
to
assert
to
ASEAN
government
ofNicials
during
the
APF2/ACSC5

were
agreed
upon.

In
the
next
year,
PEF
will
continue
to
engage
more
members
of
Thailand

refugee
communities
in
ASEAN
issues.

“ASEAN’s
Our
Home”
Community
Radio
Program
Forum

October
4
PEF
OfNice,
Bangkok

As
the
current
Chair
of
ASEAN,
the
Thai
government
has
increased
efforts
to
educate
its

citizens
about
ASEAN
and
recent
commitments
outlined
in
the
new
ASEAN
charter
and

community
blueprints.

However,
this
information
has
failed
to
reach
rural
grassroots

communities,
who
have

limited
knowledge
about

ASEAN
and
are
continually
 Community radio coverage of the 15th ASEAN summit
left
out
of
civic
discussion
on
 To complement the “ASEAN’s Our Home” radio program, members of
regional
matters.

To
address

this
problem,
PEF
met
with
 the community radio network decided to broadcast live reports from the
17
representatives
of
 15th ASEAN Summit from October 23-25 in Hua Hin, Thailand. With help
community
radio
stations
in

from PEF, the group was granted access by the Thai Ministry of Foreign
6
regions
of
Thailand
to
help

develop
content
and
format
 Affairs to cover several sessions of the summit, including the opening
for
educational
programming
 ceremony, endorsements of various documents, and the controversial
on
ASEAN.
interface meeting between ASEAN leaders and civil society
In
addition
to
providing
 representatives (5 civil society representatives were rejected by ASEAN
participants
with
essential

background
and
updates
 governments and 3 withdrew their participation in solidarity). Audio
about
ASEAN,
we
worked
 clips were broadcast to 300 community radio stations throughout
with
them
to
determine
what

Thailand, and clips and pictures were posted to 3 websites -
type
of
information
to

include
in
the
“ASEAN’s
Our
 www.aorsocho.org, www.tnewsnetwork.com and www.ldinet.org.
Home”
radio
program.

It
was

decided
that
content
would

include
discussions
on
cultural
heritage,
accounts
of
civil
society
movements
and
projects,
and

attention
to
issues
speciNic
to
local
audiences,
such
as
Rohingya
migrants,
the
Phreah
Vihear

Temple
conNlict,
and
natural
disasters.

Participants
of
the
forum
agreed
to
develop
a
community
radio
network
that
will
cooperate
on

future
ASEAN
related
programming,
and
PEF
will
continually
provide
this
network
with

updated
information
about
ASEAN.

10
Migrant
Workers
small
forum

October
9
Samsong
Center,
Phang
Nga

Fifty
migrant
workers
from
Burma,
now
living
in
Phang
Nga,
participated
in
the
small
forum

on
ASEAN,
organized
by
PEF
with
help
from
the
Foundation
for
Education
and
Development

(FED)
and
Mr.
Bundit
Panwiset,
Head
of
the
Foreign
Labor
Advocate
Network.

The
forum
was

held
to
educate
participants
about
ASEAN,
discuss

problems
faced
by
the
workers,
and
come
up
with

recommendations
for
ASEAN
to
address
their

concerns.

Discussions
focused
on
migrant
worker
issues
in

Thailand,
including
poor
working
conditions,

exploitation
by
government
agents
and
employers,

difNiculties
with
proving
nationality,
and
overall

poor
quality
of
life
resulting
from
a
widespread
lack

of
basic
rights.

Participants
composed
a
concrete

set
of
recommendations
for
the
Thai
government

and
ASEAN
to
address
such
problems,
for
example,

the
promotion
and
protection
of
rights
for

documented
and
undocumented
migrant
workers,

the
establishment
of
an
education
and/or

complaint
center
for
migrant
workers,
and
support

from
origin
countries
and
the
Thai
government
for

processes
of
proving
nationality.

Furthermore,
it

was
urged
that
ASEAN
play
a
serious
role
in

advancing
human
rights
and
democracy
in
Burma.

2nd
ASEAN
Peoples’
Forum
/
5th
ASEAN
Civil
Society
Conference


October
18‐20
Regent
Beach
Cha‐am
Resort,
Cha‐am,
Thailand

The
2nd
ASEAN
Peoples’
Forum
/
5th
ASEAN
Civil
Society
Conference
(APF2/ACSC5),

“Advancing
a
Peoples’
ASEAN:
Continuing
Dialogue”,
was
held
as
a
parallel
gathering
to
the

15th
ASEAN
Summit,
convened
in
Hua
Hin
and
Cha‐am
the
same
week.

The
event
was
meant

to
build
on
the
dialogues
that
took
place
between
civil
society
and
ASEAN
ofNicials
at
the

ACSC4
in
February
by
including
four
dialogue
sessions
organized
around
socio‐economic,

socio‐cultural,
political
and
security,
and
environmental
issues.

As
part
of
the
joint
Thai‐
Regional
Working
Group
on
the
APF,
PEF
participated
in
the
planning
and
assessment
of
the

APF2/ACSC5,
providing
key
contributions
to
the
preparation
and
evaluation
of
the
socio‐
cultural
pillar
dialogue.


A
total
of
590
people
(275
Thai
and
315
foreign/regional)
attended
the
gathering,
a
turnout

that
well
exceeded
the
target
of
the
Thai‐Regional
Working
Group.

While
a
full
day
of
dialogue

sessions
between
civil
society
representatives
and
ofNicials
from
several
ASEAN
country

community
councils
was
planned,
nearly
all
invitees
on
the
government
side
failed
to
show
up.


This
proved
to
be
very
disappointing
for
the
organizers
and
attendees,
as
there
were
high

hopes
for
building
on
the
progress
of
the
February
dialogue
by
engaging
in
more
constructive


11
discussions
with
several
ASEAN
ofNicials.

Nevertheless,
civil
society
representatives
turned

the
collapsed
dialogues
into
critical
discussions
among
activists
about
a
variety
of
issues

facing
people
of
the
region,
including
climate
justice,
environmental
impacts
of
large

development
projects,
democracy
and
human
rights
in
Burma,
free
trade,
issues
of

nationalism,
labor
protection
for
women,
and
more.



Network
participation
at
the
APF2/ACSC5
–
preparation
and
evaluation
meetings

October
17,
21
Regent
Ramkhamhaeng,
Bangkok

As
with
the
APF/ACSC4
in
February,
PEF
was
committed
to
maximizing
grassroots
people’s

participation
at
the
APF2/ACSC5
in
Cha‐am,
a
concern
of
particular
importance
given
the

venue
of
this
forum,
which
was
less
accessible
and
smaller
than
the
more
public
meeting
in

Bangkok.

In
addition
to
arranging
transportation
for
40
people
from
our
grassroots
network,

PEF
held
a
full‐day
preparation
meeting
before
the
APF2/ACSC5
and
an
evaluation
meeting

the
day
after.



In
preparation,
PEF
briefed
the
network
partners
on
the

APF/ACSC
objectives,
current
ASEAN
affairs,
and
the

civil
society
statement
from
the
February
gathering.


Issues
and
concerns
that
participants
would
advance

throughout
the
forum
in
Cha‐am
were
also
discussed

and
agreed
upon
by
network
partners,
including
issues

related
to
identity
and
history
of
conNlict,
migrant

workers,
refugees,
and
persons
with
disabilities.

After

the
APF2/ACSC5,
network
partners
met
to
evaluate
the

event
and
identify
future
activities
related
to
ASEAN.


Partners
agreed
to
focus
activities
on
monitoring
the

work
of
the
AICHR
as
well
as
community
level
impacts
of
the
socio‐cultural
and
political

security
blueprint
implementation.



The
preparation
and
evaluation
meetings
helped
to
enhance
people’s
understanding
about

ASEAN
and
the
signiNicance
of
the
parallel
APF/ACSC
process.

The
meetings
also
allowed
for

PEF
and
network
partners
to
determine
plans
for
moving
forward
with
ASEAN
activities
until

next
year’s
ASEAN
Summit
in
Vietnam.

The
output
from
the
evaluation
meeting
will
serve
as

the
basis
for
much
of
our
ASEAN
civil
society
work
in
2010,
and
network
partners
will
play

signiNicant
roles
in
developing
a
grassroots
civil
society
mechanism
for
monitoring
ASEAN

work.

Parallel
to
our
national
activities,
PEF
will
support
community‐designed
activities
on

the
ground,
with
hopes
to
strengthen
our
network
and
expand
people’s
participation
in
the

ASEAN
process.

12
2. SOUTHERN THAILAND
Immediately upon the establishment of PEF, we began conducting community visits and fact-finding campaigns in the three border
provinces of Southern Thailand, building trust with grassroots partners that we continue to work with today. Informed by continual
analysis with friends in the Deep South, we decided to set our current priorities on improving economic security of families affected by
conflict and on facilitating knowledge exchanges for community-based peace initiatives. While somewhat limited in our southern
Thailand activities due to difficulties in obtaining project funding, in 2009 PEF began capacity development with women’s occupational
collectives and participated in meetings with the Thai government and other NGOS to present our ideas for addressing the conflict.

Local
resource
and
production
training

April
20‐26
Khaokho
Talaypu
Natural
Farm,
Petchaboon
province

With
problems
of
economic
insecurity
affecting
several
network
partners,
PEF
has
made

efforts
to
increase
people’s
knowledge
of
ways
to
generate
local
income.

In
April
we
organized

a
trip
to
the
Khaokho
Talaypu
Natural
Farm,
during
which
16
participants,
including
9
women

from
southern
Thailand,
learned
methods
for
using
local
resources
to
make
products
to
sell
in

their
communities.

During
the
training,
participants
learned
how
to
identify
and
extract
raw
materials
without

damaging
the
local
environment,
how
to
produce
goods
using
low
capital,
techniques
for

improving
products
to
Nit
demands
of
each
community,
packaging
design,
and
ways
to
market

Ninished
products.

Several
trainees
expressed
enthusiasm
to
apply
the
knowledge
gained
from

the
program,
with
some
identifying
coconut
oil
and
herbal
products
as
goods
that
can
be

produced
in
their
communities.

Participants
from
southern
Thailand
will
begin
such
work

with
their
career
groups
in
our
income
generation
program
in
2010.


Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs’
consultation
with
NGOs
on
southern
Thailand


September
10
Siam
City
Hotel,
Bangkok

With
stated
intent
to
Nind
solutions
to
the
conNlict
in
southern
Thailand,
the
Ministry
of

Foreign
Affairs
invited
several
NGOs
active
in
the
three
provinces
of
Yala,
Narathiwat
and

Pattani,
along
with
some
military
ofNicials,
to
map
their
activities
and
share
ideas
and

perspectives
for
understanding
and
remedying
the
deep‐rooted
violence
in
southern
Thailand.



PEF
Director,
Chalida
Tajaroensuk,
shared
PEF’s
priorities
in
southern
Thailand,
namely

building
trust
through
victim
support,
promoting
women
and
youth
income
generation

projects,
and
facilitating
regional
knowledge
exchanges
for
community‐level
peace‐building.

In
addition,
Khun
Chalida
challenged
the
government
to
reevaluate
their
thinking
on
southern

Thailand
and
offered
the
following
points
and
suggestions:
• Ordinary
people
involved
in
the
insurgency
should
be
regarded
not
as
terrorists
but
as

an
oppressed
minority
who
are
struggling
to
protect
their
rights.
• Some
form
of
“special
autonomy”
should
be
established
in
the
southernmost
provinces.


• Sustained
peace
talks
between
insurgent
groups
and
the
Thai
government
should

begin.

13
 Southern
Thailand
NGO
and
community
leader
meeting


September
30
Paradise
Hotel,
Hatyai

Organized
by
King
Prajadhipok’s
Institute
(KPI)
and
facilitated
by
Dr.
Mark
Thamtai,
a
meeting

was
held
for
nearly
500
NGO
workers
and
southern
Thailand
community
leaders
to
share

work
experiences,
map
activity
locations,
and
discuss
ways
to
improve
coordination
and

mutual
support
among
peace
actors
in
the
Deep
South.

As
a
participant
organization,
PEF

shared
our
priorities
in
supporting
local‐level
income
generation
for
women
and
youth
and

facilitating
regional
knowledge
exchanges
for
community‐level
peace‐building
strategies.


From
the
meeting,
PEF
learned
of
the
encouraging
breadth
and
variety
of
activities
taking

place
in
southern
Thailand,
but
misunderstandings
and
disagreements
between
NGOs
and

community
leaders
about
appropriate
roles
and
contributions
of
each
were
evident.

It
is
clear

that
there
is
much
work
to
be
done
to
maximize
cooperation
between
varied
actors
in
the

conNlict
areas.

JI return home
This July, after spending 6 years in Cambodian prison and three years standing trial in Cambodia’s Supreme Court for alleged plots to bomb
United States and United Kingdom embassies in Phnom Penh, Mr. Jehming and Mr. Mading, two men affiliated with Jemaah Islamiya (JI), were
released and eventually reunited with their families in Thailand’s Yala province.

With a firm belief in the innocence of the two men, PEF (with Forum-Asia for one year)
worked to monitor the trial, provide background documents and trial analysis to
authorities, and lobby for their release. As the only Thai organization that closely
monitored this case, our trial report was used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Yala governor as the basic document for assessing the case. Such efforts contributed to
the prisoner exchange between Thailand and Cambodia, in which the two JI were released
along with two Cambodians on death penalty in Thailand. By August 1, 2009, the two men
were back home living normal lives as Thai civilians, and the families of the two men
remain our close partners in the Deep South.

“Inter­religion
Peace
Building
for
Long­term
Development”
meeting

November
11‐12
Ashram
Wongsanit,
Ashram

Co‐organized
by
the
Sewalanka
Foundation
and
People’s
Empowerment
Foundation,
the

“Inter‐religion
Peace
Building
for
Long‐term
Development”
meeting
brought
together

religious
leaders,
academics
and
other
civil
society
actors
from
southern
Thailand,
Burma,

Aceh
and
Sri
Lanka
to
share
experiences
of
managing
conNlict
in
respective
locations,
with
an

emphasis
on
religious
practice
and
peace‐building.

The
panels,
moderated
by
Chalida


14
Tajaroensuk,
covered
such
topics
as
the
role
of
civil
society
in
peace‐building,
comparisons

between
conNlicts
in
southern
Thailand
and
Aceh,
experiences
of
conNlict
in
the
Shan
ethnic

state
of
Burma,
Sri
Lanka
experiences
in
conNlict
management
and
peace
building,
and
the

concept
of
Dawa
Talip
as
applied
in
southern
Thailand.

Speakers
included
Sulak
Sivaruksa,
Dr.

Charintira
na
Talang
of
Thammasat
University,
the
Venerable
Ashin
Asopa,
former
Deputy

Military
4th
Commander
General
Somret
Srirai,
Damis
Dawa‐Abdul
Laoman
Jethe
of
southern

Thailand,
and
Shan
activist,
Ms.
Cham
Tong.



Approximately
50
people
attended
the
meeting
and
listened
to
several
thought‐provoking

discussions
about
the
conNlict
situations
and
religion‐based
peace
building
processes
in
four

countries.

In
addition,
much
of
the
meeting
content
was
prepared
to
share
during
the
larger

International
Network
of
Engaged
Buddhists
(INEB)
meeting
that
was
held
in
Chiang
Mai
the

same
week.

Women
and
youth
career
group
development

To
build
on
the
progress
we
have
made
in
organizing
women’s
occupational
collectives
in
the

Deep
South,
we
have
begun
initial
stages
in
strengthening
their
income
generating
capacity

through
comprehensive
skills
training,
learning
exchange
trips
to
self‐sufNicient
producer

communities
in
northern
Thailand,
and
assistance
in
production
startup
and
marketing.


Recognizing
the
limited
employment
opportunities
for
young
people
in
southern
Thailand,
we

will
also
include
youth
from
the
area
in
our
growing
income
generation
program.

With

funding
from
the
United
States
Embassy
in
Thailand,
we
are
now
planning
more
exchange

trips,
training
workshops,
and
startup
capital
support.

Funding
permitting,
our
project
will

expand
to
include
additional
training
workshops
and
exchanges,
as
well
as
marketing

assistance
and
Ninancial
management
training.


15
3. DEMOCRACY
Amid the unstable and seemingly regressing political situation in Thailand, PEF has begun to develop a program area focusing on the
promotion of democracy in the country. With particular concern about the monopolization of political dialogue by extreme
oppositional views, we are now in the initial stages of a project that aims to foster open spaces for critical analysis and meaningful
discussion about democratization in Thailand.  Targeted primarily at the urban middle-class through online platforms in the first year,
the program will subsequently expand to the grassroots community level in the form of face-to-face discussion forums focused on
people’s conceptions and experiences of ongoing political issues and events. 

Open
Forums
for
Dialogues
on
Thai
Democracy


Online
Forums

As
our
Nirst
attempt
at
engaging
people
through
new
media
platforms,
in
2009
we
launched
an

online
discussion
forum
(http://www.openthaidemocracy.com)
that
will
feature
contributions

from
Thai
academics
and
public
intellectuals
about
fundamental
concepts
of
democracy.

The

forum,
as
well
as
accompanying
seminars
at
university
campuses,
is
intended
as
a
space
for

the
Thai
public
to
engage
in
open
and
constructive
dialogues
about
democracy
issues.


To
complement
article
discussions,
we
have
conducted
several
video
interviews
with
people
in

public
places
in
Bangkok
about
their
ideas
on
Thai
democracy,
to
be
included
on
the
website.


Video
interviews
with
a
student
leader
and
labor
leader
were
also
conducted
and
included
on

the
site.

The
preliminary
website
was
put
up
in
late
July,
and
the
full
version
was
launched
in

September.

Guided
discussions
on
particular
topics,
including
rule
of
law;
rights,
freedoms

and
equality;
good
governance;
and
people’s
participation,
began
in
late
2009
and
will

continue
throughout
2010.



Seminars

Our
Nirst
seminar,
“Alternative
Media
and
Opening
up

Democratic
Space,”
was
held
on
October
29
at
the
Faculty
of

Political
Science,
Chulalongkorn
Univerity,
Bangkok
to
promote

the
launch
of
PEF’s
Open
Thai
Democracy
website.

The

seminar,
moderated
by
national
media
personality,
Jomkwan

Lohpetch,
included
a
panel
of
journalists
and
academics
that

included
Dr.
Jon
Ungpakorn,
Director
of
iLaw;
Mr.
Chuwat

Rerksirisuk,
Editor
of
Prachatai;
Mr.
Jom
Petchpradab,

journalist;
Mr.
Piched
Yingkiadtikoon,
representative
from
Thai

Netizen;
and
Dr.
Pitch
Wongsawat,
lecturer
at
the
Faculty
of

Political
Science,
Chulalongkorn
University.

Discussions
focused
on
the
role
of
independent
and
alternative

media
on
opening
democratic
space
in
Thailand,
and
the

agenda
for
PEF’s
“Open
Forums
for
Dialogues
on
Thai

Democracy”
project
were
shared
with
the
48
people
in

attendance.

In
addition,
3
independent
media
organizations

broadcast
the
event
live
on
their
websites.

The
seminar
was

well
received
by
those
in
attendance
and
was
successful
in

drawing
public
attention
to
the
project.

The
second
seminar,
“Thai
Style
Rule
of
Law:
When
security

and
freedoms
are
violated,”
was
held
on
December
17
at
the


16
Faculty
of
Law,
Thammasat
University,
and
was
co‐organized
with
iLaw.

Focusing
on
the
Nirst

subject
in
our
democracy
dialogues,
the
“rule
of
law”
seminar
covered
topics
of
particular

relevance
to
the
current
political
atmosphere
in
Thailand,
including
public
insecurity
and
fear,

deNinitions
of
security
as
applied
through
the

Internal
Security
Act,
and
computer
crime
laws

and
protection
of
freedom
in
cyberspace.



Panelists
included
Kasem
Penpinun,
Ph.D,
of

the
department
of
Philosophy
at
Chulalongkorn

University;
Assistant
Professor
Somchai

Preechasinlapakul,
former
Dean
of
the
Faculty

of
Law,
Chiangmai
University;
and
Sawatree

Suksri,
Faculty
of
Law,
Thammasat
University.


The
panel
was
followed
by
a
roundtable

discussion
on
rule
of
law
in
Thailand,

moderated
by
Sawatree
Suksri
and
including

Jiranuch
Premchaiporn,
Director
of
Prachatai,

Puttanee
Karngkun
of
the
Working
Group
for

Justice
for
Peace,
Watcharee
Paoleungtong
of

the
Alternative
Energy
Studies
Group,
and

Adison
Kertmonkol,
specialist
in
migrant

worker
rights.

Attended
by
approximately
60
people
and

broadcast
live
via
organization
websites,
the

seminar
featured
critical
discussion
about
the

Thai
government’s
suppression
of
information

Nlow
and
threats
to
free
access
of
information.


The
loose
application
of
vague
laws
and
emergency
decrees
was
also
discussed
as
serious

challenges
to
citizens’
rights
amid
attempts
by
the
government
to
protect
itself
from

oppositional
views.

In
addition
to
independent
media
coverage,
the
half‐day
meeting
was

given
mainstream
national
coverage
in
the
Thai
newspaper,
The
Nation.

17
4. CROSS-BORDER
With Thailand serving as a main receiving country in Southeast Asia for migrants who face threats to human rights and human
security in their home countries, PEF has implemented projects to address problems of such groups living in Thailand and to cultivate
positive relationships between migrant and local Thai communities. In addition to a focus on migrant issues, this program area has
included cross-border peace initiatives, including the Thai-Cambodia civil society dialogue on the Preah Vihear Temple in 2008. In
2009, we maintained a focus on Burmese cross-border issues, including those of Rohingya refugees, and began providing
humanitarian assistance for Khmer Krom refugees.

Humanitarian
assistance
and
advocacy
for
Rohingya
detainees


People’s
Empowerment
has
been
working
through
close
consultation
with
Muslim
and

Rohingya
communities
in
Ranong
and
partners
in
Bangkok,
including
the
Burmese
Rohingya

Association
of
Thailand,
the
Council
of
Muslim
Organizations
of
Thailand,
and
the
Rohingya

Human
Rights
Association,
to
address
the
immediate
needs
of
Rohingya
detainees
in
Thailand.

Ranong
IDC
fact­Hinding
visit,
August
16

Since
January
30,
2009,
Nifty‐Nive
Rohingya
boat
people
had
been
detained
in
the
Immigration

Detention
Center
in
Ranong.

Upon
hearing
news
of
deplorable
living
conditions
in
the

facilities,
resulting
in
two
deaths,
PEF
organized
a
visit
to
assess
the
situation,
to
offer
moral

support
to
the
detainees,
and
to
put
forth
suggestions
to
authorities
about
how
to
remedy
the

immediate
problems.

Members
of
the
visiting
group
included
Mr.
Viraj
Romyen,
Parliament

Representative
of
Ranong,
three
representatives
form
the
Yannadullahim
Mosque,
Mr.
Sucheeb

Pattong
of
the
Community‐based
Council
of
Ranong,
Police
Sergeant
Major
Suvit

Chanpolngam,
PEF
director,
Chalida
Tajaroensuk
and
3
PEF
staff,
and
2
translators.

During
the
visit,
we
found
that
the
detainment
area’s
inadequate
ventilation
system
had

caused
widespread
respiratory
problems
for
the
detainees,
and
transmission
of
illness
was

frequent.

At
the
time,
the
cause
of
the
latest
death
was
unidentiNied.

Furthermore,
many
of

the
detainees
were
suffering
from
muscle
atrophy
in
their
legs
as
a
result
of
sleeping
on
the

cement
ground,
with
sixteen
experiencing
extreme
difNiculty
walking.

It
was
clear
that
lack
of

outdoor
exercise
had
degenerated
the
physical
condition
of
nearly
all
of
the
detainees.

In

addition
to
physical
problems,
it
was
found
that
the
Rohingya
had
been
struggling
with
severe

emotional
stress
due
to
the
uncertainty
of
their
future
and
the
fear
of
being
deported
back
to

Burma.
Given
this
situation,
PEF
issued
a
report
to
the
Immigration
Bureau
suggesting
that
the

detainees
be
moved
to
a
larger
temporary
holding
place,
that
physicians
check
the
health
of

the
Rohingya
on
a
regular
basis,
that
the
Rohingya
be
given
support
during
the
fasting
period

of
Ramadan,
and
that
the
local
mosque
be
allowed
to
visit
the
detainees
for
spiritual
support.



The
report
also
urged
Thai
policy‐makers
to
form
clear
and
fair
national
policies
regarding
the

refugees.

On
August
19,
the
detainees
were
moved
to
the
Immigration
Detention
Center
in

Bangkok.



Support
for
religious
practices
–
Ramadan
and
Eid
al­Adha


DifNiculties
in
carrying
out
important
religious
rituals
have
added
to
the
worries
of
Rohingya

detainees,
most
of
which
are
devout
Muslims.

After
the
transfer
of
the
55
Rohingya
from
the

Immigration
Detention
Center
in
Ranong,
there
were
93
Rohingya
detained
in
the
IDC
in

Bangkok.

Arriving
on
August
19,
the
detainees
were
concerned
with
having
proper
food
to

start
and
break
their
fasts
during
the
holy
month
of
Ramadan,
lasting
from
August
21
–

September
19.


During
this
time,
PEF
and
volunteers
helped
to
solicit
food
and
monetary

donations
from
individuals
and
local
businesses
for
the
Rohingya
to
practice
their
religious

rituals
for
the
entire
Ramadan
period.

In
addition,
we
helped
to
organize
an
Eid
al‐Adha

celebration
in
the
detention
center
on
November
27.

Rohingya
network
meeting,
December
8

PEF
organized
a
meeting
at
the
Muslim
Mosque
Center
in
Bangkok
with
Rohingya
refugees,

Rohingya
advisors,
and
Muslim
organizations
to
discuss
ways
to
address
the
problem
of

Rohingya
detainees
at
the
Immigration
Detention
Center
in
Bangkok.

Other
groups
working

on
Rohingya
issues
who
were
unable
to
attend
emailed
their
suggestions.

In
the
meeting,
it

was
agreed
that
the
Thai
government
should
contact
the
United
Nations
Human
Rights

Council
(UNHCR)
to
urge
them
to
accept
the
detainees
as
People
of
Concern
(POC).


Resettlement
to
a
third
country
was
identiNied
as
the
best
solution,
and
it
was
agreed
that

deportation
back
to
Burma
was
an
unacceptable
course
of
action.


A
letter
summarizing
the

suggestions
was
prepared
for
submission
to
the
Prime
Minister’s
ofNice
and
other
relevant

departments.

Humanitarian
assistance
for
Khmer
Krom
refugees

Indigenous
to
the
Mekong
Delta
in
southern
Vietnam,
the
Khmer
Krom
have
been
subject
to

years
of
discrimination
and
human
rights
violations
by
the
Vietnamese
government.

Those

who
Nlee
to
neighboring
Cambodia
generally
experience
further
discrimination
by
the

Cambodian
government,
with
many
compelled
to
move
elsewhere.

There
are
now
over
300

Khmer
Krom
refugees
living
“illegally”
in
Thailand
with
no
documents
and
no
protection
from

the
UNHCR,
who
rejected
their
POC
case.

Upon
requests
from
a
Khmer
Krom
community

leader
for
PEF
and
Forum‐Asia
to
provide
security
protection
and
humanitarian
assistance
for

the
refugees,
PEF
has
conducted
several
activities
in
their
support.

In
2009,
we
helped
to
protect
the
human
security
of
10
Khmer
Krom
by
registering
them
as

migrant
workers
in
Thailand.

However,
there
is
still
a
considerable
need
for
additional

registration
assistance.

In
addition,
we
supported
the
acceptance
of
4
Khmer
Krom
children

to
attend
a
Thai
school
and
included
a
group
of
Khmer
Krom
in
our
small
loans
program
to

help
generate
income
for
the
community.

The
latter
was
minimally
successful,
as
participants

had
problems
marketing
their
locally
produced
soy
products.

PEF
has
also
worked
closely

with
Cambodian
groups
to
gain
recognition
by
the
UNHCR
for
resettlement
to
a
3rd
country.


19
While
PEF
has
tried
to
help
with
day‐to‐day
protection
and
humanitarian
assistance
for
the

Khmer
Krom,
we
are
limited
in
our
capacity
to
address
all
of
their
needs.

As
such,
we
are

urging
cooperation
from
other
organizations
to
pay
attention
to
their
cause,
which
has
been

largely
neglected
thus
far.

There
are
now
some
groups
interested
in
helping
with
children’s

education
and
community
development,
and
we
contacted
local
hospitals
in
two
provinces
to

help
with
healthcare,
but
there
is
still
a
need
for
the
refugee‐focused
NGO
community
to
take

more
action
on
helping
the
Khmer
Krom.

Economic,
social,
and
cultural
rights
workshops

March
21‐22,
Basic
Training,
Mae
Sot
May
30‐31,
Basic
Training,
Phang
Nga
June
26‐27,
Advanced
Training,
Mae
Sot
August
14‐15,
Advanced
Training,
Phang
Nga
October
10,
Thai
Labor
Training,
Bangkok
November
9‐13,
Training
of
Trainers,
Mae
Sot

PEF
has
partnered
with
the
Foundation
for
Education
and
Development
(FED),
based
in
Phang

Nga,
Thailand,
on
a
three‐year
project
aimed
at
educating
Burmese
migrant
communities

about
economic,
social
and
cultural
rights
(ESCR)
issues.

The
project
seeks
to
establish
a

knowledge
base
among
migrant
communities
and
community
organizers
that
will
serve
as
the

foundation
for
future
local
campaigns
for
ESCR.

In
addition,
project
activities
aim
to
foster

positive
engagement
between
migrant
communities
and
sectors
of
Thai
civil
society,

particularly
Thai
labor
groups.

In
the
Nirst
year
of
the
project,
PEF
and
FED
organized
six
workshops,
including
basic
and

advanced
trainings
in
Mae
Sot
and
Phang
Nga,
a
training
of
trainers
in
Mae
Sot,
and
a
training

about
ESCR
and
migrant
worker
conditions
for
members
of
Thai
labor
organizations
in

Bangkok.


Participants
of
the
Phang
Nga
and
Mae
Sot
workshops
included
members
of
ten

community‐based
organizations
working
on
labor,
women’s
and
children’s
rights,
as
well
as

approximately
30
migrant
workers
employed
in
garment
factories,
construction
sites
and

rubber
plantations.


Thirty
representatives
of
Thai
labor
organizations
were
present
at
the

Thai
labor
workshop.

20
From
these
workshops,
participants
have
gained
comprehensive
knowledge
about
human

rights,
the
ESCR
framework,
speciNic
UN
covenants
and
international
human
rights
structures

and
mechanisms,
and
Thai
labor
and
migrant
laws
of
particular
relevance
to
ESCR
and

migrant
workers.

In
addition,
participants
shared
their
experiences
working
and
living
in

Thailand
and
discussed
ways
to
work
collectively
toward
the
realization
of
ESCR
in
their

communities.

Participants
of
the
training
of
trainers
workshop
were
taught
facilitation
skills

to
be
used
in
ESCR
workshops
within
their
communities,
while
those
present
at
the
Thai
labor

workshop
learned
about
work
and
living
conditions
faced
by
migrant
workers
and
discussed

strategies
for
developing
Thai‐migrant
labor
solidarity.

Moving
forward
with
this
project,
PEF

and
FED
plan
to
shift
the
second‐year
focus
toward
support
of
several
migrant
community

workshops
and
fostering
connections
between
migrant
communities
and
Thai
workers.


International
World
Peace
Day
March

September
21,
2009
Mae
Sot

On
this
year’s
International
World
Peace
Day,

the
Venerable
Ashin
Sopaka,
of
the

International
Burmese
Monks
Organizations,

organized
a
march
through
the
border
town

of
Mae
Sot
to
promote
peace
in
Burma
and

throughout
the
world
and
to
commemorate

the
2nd
anniversary
of
the
Saffron
Revolution

in
Burma.


The
march
included
over
200

activists,
including
members
of
the
following

organizations:
Alternative
ASEAN
Network

on
Burma,
Burma
Partnership,
People’s

Empowerment
Foundation,
Forum‐Asia,
Thai

Action
Committee
for
Democracy
in
Burma,

International
Burmese
Monks
Organizations,

International
Network
of
Engaged
Buddhists,

Friends
of
Burma,
Forum
for
Democracy
in

Burma,
and
the
Student
Federation
of

Thailand.

The
8‐kilometer
march
snaked
through
the

border
town
of
Mae
Sot
and
ended
at
the

bridge
that
crosses
to
Burma,
where
Thai

intelligence
ofNicers
and
25
riot
police
stood

by
and
watched
various
speeches
and
a

concluding
inter‐faith
prayer
service.


In

addition
to
participating
in
the
march,
PEF

helped
to
explain
the
event
to
the
Tak

governor
and
local
authorities
beforehand,

ensuring
that
the
event
would
occur
smoothly
and
without
interference
from
security
forces.


21
 GRASSROOTS
SUPPORT
Parallel to our core program areas, PEF carries out several activities to support, collaborate with, and strengthen the capacity of
grassroots partners and civil society networks. In 2009, such activities included skills training workshops and exchange programs,
political analysis meetings, solidarity events, community visits, and humanitarian assistance. The following is a list of the year’s
grassroots support activities, some of which are described in other sections of this report.

Labor
solidarity
• Meeting
with
Train
Trade
Union
and
Thai
NGOs
about
the
railway
workers
labor

dispute,
Bangkok
• Co‐organization
of
Dignity
Returns
solidarity
group
meeting,
Bangkok
• Field
visits
and
moral
and
Ninancial
support
for
the
laid‐off
Triumph
factory
workers’

campaign,
Bangkok
• Monthly
attendance
of
Thai
Labor
Solidarity
Committee
meetings,
Bangkok
• Foreign
labor
Advocate
Network
meeting,
Bangkok

Refugee
and
migrant
community
support
• Two
Rohingya
refugee
meetings
at
PEF
ofNice,
Bangkok
• Three
meetings
with
Rohingya
refugees
and
the
Muslim
Organization
Committee,

Bangkok
• Fact‐Ninding
visit
to
Rohingya
detainees
in
the
Immigration
Detention
Center,
Ranong
• Resource
person
for
the
Burmese
migrant
worker
community
commemoration
of
the

2nd
year
anniversary
of
the
Saffron
Revolution
in
Burma,
Pang‐nga
• Mahachai
Burmese
migrant
worker
area
visit,
with
Catuddisa
Sangha,
Mahachai
• Khmer
Krom
refugee
community
visits
and
assistance
for
registration
as
migrant

workers,
support
for
children’s
education
and
health
care
mechanism,
Nonthaburi

22
 Political
analysis
meetings
• Bangkok
partner
and
Rayong
community
analysis
of
the
Thai
political
situation
after

the
violence
that
occurred
in
Bangkok
and
Pattaya
in
April,
Rayong
• Student
Network
meeting
to
discuss
the
Thai
political
situation,
PEF
ofNice,
Bangkok

Southern
Thailand
sharing
and
analysis
• Southern
Thailand
group
meeting
• Two
NGO
meetings
on
southern
Thailand
• Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
meeting
on
southern
Thailand,
Bangkok

Other
community
support
• Community
radio
program
meeting,
PEF
ofNice,
Bangkok
• Pantia
village
community
visit,
Buriram
• Thai‐Karen
villager
and
local
authority
discussion
on
ASEAN,
Ratchaburi
• Thai‐Cambodian
women
income
generating
exchange
program,
Phnom
Penh,

Cambodia

Income generation for disadvantaged groups in Bangkok and nearby areas

Beginning in late May, in cooperation with Bangkok’s Community Organization’s Development Institute (CODI), PEF provided small funds to
facilitate income generation projects for some of the most disadvantaged groups in Thai society.
Participants of the project included senior citizens of the
Pantia village in Buriram, the Khlong 6 – a group of 20
unemployed women workers that PEF helped to organize, 3
Rohingya refugee families, and a group of Khmer Krom
refugees, consisting of 14 families. Projects were decided
by each group depending on interest, capacity, and
resources, and small loans were used to produce and sell
the following: rotti (Rohingya), soy products (Khmer Krom),
and mushrooms (Khlong 6 workers group). Members of
the Buriram community chose to produce artificial funeral
flowers, but funds were only provided for a training
workshop, as described below.
Allotted funds were used for startup capital and to support
training workshops for some groups. For instance, five
members of the Khlong 6 attended a training program from
July 1-5 in Samut Prakan, during which participants learned
methods for growing and selling mushrooms. Program
content included the stages of mushroom growth,
instructions for processing raw materials, methods for making other products from mushrooms, and basic accounting practices. A workshop
was also conducted for the Pantia village community group in Buriram. With strong leadership and a high capacity to organize, this group
arranged for a workshop to train 30 locals how to craft artificial flowers to be used in funeral rituals. PEF provided them with a small loan to
carry out their program, which was held from May 18-22 in Buriram.
With the exception of the Khmer Krom, who have had difficulties in marketing and selling their products, the groups have been able to make
sales in their communities and have begun paying back their loans. With the initial loan period finished, PEF will continue to communicate with
each group to assess their experiences. Assistance will also be given to the Khmer Krom in finding markets for their soy products.
 REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS
As a national organization, PEF maintains working relationships with regional and international networks and organizations, linking
our work in Thailand to broad campaigns for peace, human rights, and democracy. In 2009 we continued to establish and
strengthen ties with allies outside of Thailand through participation in several civil society gatherings.

Gwangju
International
Peace
Forum

May
15‐18
Kim
Dae‐jung
Convention
Center,
Gwangju,
South
Korea

With
participants
from
organizations
throughout
Asia,
including
ARENA,
the
Asian
NPO

Network
for
Adequate
Housing
(ANAH),
International
Coalition
of
Historic
Sites,
Asian

Memorial
Associations
on
International
Network,
PSPD
International
Solidarity
Committee

and
SDMA,
the
Gwangju
International
Peace
forum
was
held
to
share
information
about
the

May
18
democratic
uprising
and
democratic
movement
in
South
Korea
and
to
foster
a
network

of
human
rights
and
other
civil
society
movements
across
Asia.

The
forum
included
several

workshops
and
information
sharing
sessions,
and
provided
an
opportunity
for
PEF
staff
to

share
work
experiences
and
connect
with
other
human
rights
and
democracy
activists

throughout
the
region.



World
Forum
for
Democratization
in
Asia
biennial
meeting

September
16‐18
Seoul,
South
Korea

The
World
Forum
for
Democratization
in
Asia
(WFDA)
holds
a
biennial
conference
to
foster

solidarity
and
cooperation
among
Asian
democracy
actors
and
activists
and
to
gain

international
support
for
democratization
efforts
in
Asia.

The
2009
gathering
included

approximately
200
democracy
and
human
rights
activists
from
over
20
countries.

PEF

program
Manager,
Kriangsak
Teerakowitkajorn
attended
the
gathering
and
helped
to
organize

the
youth
caucus
on
the
last
day.

The
conference
covered
such
topics
as
Korean

democratization,
addressing
issues
of
poverty
and
inequality
through
democracy,
political

participation
of
women,
and
more.

In
addition,
the
Framework
for
Action
2009‐2011
was

discussed
and
adopted,
along
with
the
Seoul
Declaration
on
Democracy
and
Economic
and

Social
Justice.

The
conference
provided
a
valuable
chance
to
share
PEF’s
national
work
on

democracy
promotion
while
learning
about
work
experiences
of
groups
in
other
locations.

Global
Partnership
for
the
Prevention
of
Armed
ConXlict
–
Southeast
Asia,
Regional

Steering
Committee
Meeting

September
30
–
September
31
Waterfront
Insular
Hotel,
Davao,
Philippines

24
As
a
member
organization
of
the
Global
Partnership
for
the

Prevention
of
Armed
ConNlict
–
Southeast
Asia
(GPPAC‐SEA),
PEF

was
present
at
the
GPPAC‐SEA
Regional
Steering
Committee

meeting,
which
was
held
in
Davao,
Philippines
prior
to
the
GPPAC

International
Steering
Group
meeting.

PEF
staff
met
with

partners
from
the
Philippines,
Indonesia,
and
Cambodia,
as
well

as
peace
activists
from
the
Balkans
and
West
Africa,
to
share

country
situations
and
discuss
such
topics
as
peace‐building
amid

ethnic
differences
and
early
warning
and
early
response
(EWAR).


Field
visits
to
communities
throughout
Mindanao
were
also

organized.

Key
challenges
and
strategies
for
addressing
the
conNlict
in
southern
Thailand

were
shared
by
PEF
staff.

In
addition,
participants
Ninalized
the
GPPAC‐SEA
action
plan
for

2010‐2012,
of
which
PEF
will
contribute
to
in
the
coming
years.

Asia
Europe
People’s
Forum
meeting
on
Transformative
Social
Protection


October
12‐13
Manila,
Philippines

In
October,
PEF
Director,
Chalida
Tajaroensuk,
attended
a
meeting
with
members
of
the
Asia

Europe
People’s
Forum
(AEPF)
to
discuss
proposals
and
plans
for
transformative
social

protection
as
a
democratic
and
human
rights
response
to
the
economic
crisis.


Approximately

50
people
from
Southeast
and
South
Asia
attended
the
meeting
to
discuss
problems

associated
with
Ninancial,
economic,
food,
and
climate
crises,
as
well
as
the
need
for
such
basic

rights
as
pension,
social
security,
education,
housing,
healthcare,
adequate
food,
water
and

electricity.

It
was
agreed
that
transformative
social
protection
would
be
a
key
agenda
that
will

be
advanced
by
the
AEPF
and
by
the
International
Network
for
Transformative
Social

Protection
("Reclaim
People's
Dignity"),
which
was
formed
during
the
meeting.

As
a
member

of
this
network,
PEF
will
push
for
transformative
social
protection
measures
in
Thailand
and

will
link
the
concept
to
our
work
in
monitoring
the
three
ASEAN
community
blueprints.

In

addition,
we
plan
to
bring
partners
from
our
Thai
grassroots
network
to
participate
in
the

next
AEPF
in
Belgium
in
October
2010.

International
Network
of
Engaged
Buddhists
Conference


November
13‐17
International
Meditation
Center
of
Mahachulalongkorn
University,
Chiang
Mai

PEF
staff
was
among
the
200
participants
of
the
International
Network
of
Engaged
Buddhists

(INEB)
conference,
held
during
their
“Festival
of
Peace
and
Social
Transformation.”

We
also

brought
nuns
and
monks
from
Catuddisa
Sangha,
a
Buddhist
movement
that
conducts

grassroots
social
development
activities
throughout
Asia,
to
attend
the
meeting.

Bringing

together
spiritual
groups
from
across
the
world,
the
conference
included
panels
covering

several
topics
relevant
to
“engaged
Buddhism”,
including
economic
and
environmental
justice,

nationalism
and
ethnicity,
and
gender
issues.

At
the
meeting,
PEF
shared
ideas
for
a
Thai‐
Cambodian
peace
project
based
on
building
trust
and
mutual
understanding
through
cross‐
border
community
visits
and
discussions
on
people’s
histories.

As
a
result,
we
were
able
to

make
links
with
like‐minded
partners
in
Cambodia,
who
we
are
collaborating
with
to
begin

the
project
in
early
2010.

26
2009 Donors

ASEAN Association – Thailand

Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI)

May18 Memorial Foundation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

Open Society Institute (OSI)

Oxfam Great Britain

Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation in Human Development (SEARCH)

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

United States Embassy in Thailand