Waewrin Buangern
Waewrin Buangern (Jo) is a Lampang community-based human rights defender and co-ordinator of the Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group, based in Lampang province, North Thailand, working to protect the environment and natural resources of local communities. The Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group was set up by Ban Haeng villagers who were opposing a mining project in the Lampang province granted to the Kiew Lueng Company in 2010. As coordinator of the Conservation Group, Waewrin Buangern has organised meetings to raise awareness for the villagers and helped with the submission of petition letters to the local authorities.
Human rights defenders in Thailand face threats, physical assaults, arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, and extrajudicial killings. Police have responded violently to peaceful protests, using excessive force against local communities demonstrating peacefully against the construction of dams or oil pipelines. In several instances, police have arrested and charged a number of protesters and human rights defenders.
