Thailand NGOs condemn protest violence that killed children
Feb.26,2014: A coalition of children’s rights NGOs has condemned recent political
violence in Thailand that cost the lives of four children. The Children’s Organization
Network, a coalition of 43 local and international NGOs, called on all sides of Thailand’s
political divide to place the safety and welfare of children ahead of any political
agenda. “We especially condemn intentional or unintentional acts carried out by any
party that cause death and danger to children and young people,” it said in a statement
on Wednesday at a press conference at the Thai Journalists Association offices in
Bangkok. A brother and sister died from wounds sustained in a grenade attack in
Bangkok on Sunday. A day earlier a five-year-old girl was killed in a drive-by shooting
during an anti-government rally in eastern Trat province. Another five-year-old girl
died on Tuesday morning after being struck by a bullet in the same shooting. None
of the victims were connected with anyone involved in the protests. The coalition
urged law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible for the violence to justice
quickly and called on the government to provide medical care and compensation to families
affected. In its statement, the coalition urged parents not to take their children
to protest sites “precisely because there are no protest sites that are clearly safe
for children”. It also called on protest leaders to strongly advise parents and guardians
to remove children from all demonstration sites. While not criticizing anyone specifically,
the statement also requested that protest leaders “not use children and youths as
political pawns in their cause”. Source: Ucan