ARTICLE 19 calls for the investigation and prosecution of the individuals responsible for the shooting of Roning Dolah, a prominent human rights defender who had been investigating extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances in South Thailand.
It was reported that Roning Dolah was shot three times in front of his own home on 25 June in Yarang District in the Pattani Province. Allegedly, the shooters were two individuals on a motorcycle, wearing plain black clothes while hiding their faces.
“Investigations must be conducted urgently and transparently. Authorities should consider establishing an independent mechanism to investigate violence in the Deep South of Thailand,” said David Diaz-Jogeix, ARTICLE 19’s Senior Director of Programmes.
Roning Dolah was a bold human rights defender and a coordinator for the organisation Duai Jai. The organisation is a part of the Deep South Coalition, which monitors cases of torture and extrajudicial activities. They also implement social and economic programmes to empower communities affected by the complicated violence that takes place in Thailand’s Deep South, a distinct sociopolitical entity that comprises the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla.
Compounding this issue is the use of special laws in the Deep South, such as the Martial Law Act, the Emergency Decree, and the Internal Security Act. These laws grant sweeping powers to the military and law enforcement, including the authority to detain individuals without charge, conduct searches without warrants, and impose curfews. While intended to restore order, these measures often result in human rights abuses, with human rights defenders in the crosshairs. These problematic provisions have also had a chilling effect, silencing dissent and discouraging activists from speaking out against injustices. The pervasive atmosphere of fear and repression undermines the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, further exacerbating the challenges faced by those advocating for human rights in the region.
“The safety of human rights defenders is left to the gaps in protection mechanisms in Thailand. Especially in regions where special laws are deployed, protection is not guaranteed for people who work in conflict areas such as the Deep South. Justice must be served, starting with the thorough investigations of the shooting of Ronin Dolah,” said David.
Violent incidents such as the shooting of Roning Dolah only feed into the escalating violence and polarisation in Pattani, a province already plagued by conflict and unrest. Since the decades-old insurgency campaign reignited in early 2004, there have been over 22,495 violent incidents in the border region, resulting in more than 7,594 deaths and 14,122 injuries, according to Deep South Watch.
ARTICLE 19 stands in solidarity with the civil society of South Thailand and the people who worked alongside Roning Dolah and Duay Jai.