Land-rights activists claim police planted drugs

The activists from People’s Movement for a Just Society (P-move) said officers had displayed “disgusting behaviour” by trying to frame them for drug possession to obstruct their trip to Bangkok to attend a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office minister today to discuss land rights.
Kanya Pankitti, coordinator of Khao Bantad Land Reform Network and member of P-move, said yesterday four plainclothes officers, who identified themselves as police, went to her office in Trang and asked members about the journey to Bangkok.
However, after the conversation, the members of the network noticed that one of the officers had dropped a bag containing amphetamine pills on the ground, and they then tried to frame the network members.
Kanya said the officers prevented them from taking pictures of the pills. She said that the bag had been dropped on the ground near the officers.
“After they were caught trying to frame us, they immediately left the scene, so we went to the police station and reported the issue,” she said.
“This is an unacceptable act by the officers. They have accused us, the political protesters, and then tried to blame us for having drugs. We are just poor people who are asking for rights to our land.”
However, Pol Lt-Colonel Methee Channgam, deputy superintendent of Muang Trang Police Station, said there was a misunderstanding and police had resolved the problem.
Northern region P-move member Direk Khongngen also said members of the network nationwide had experienced intimidation from officials.
“I myself was approached by military personnel, who asked me not to go to Bangkok for the gathering, adding that I may be arrested. However, I said our group had an invitation from the Prime Minister’s Office to attend the meeting with Minister Ormsin Chivapruck.
“P-move members from across the country will express their problems to the government tomorrow [today], such as the forced relocations.”