Forward Party Demands Police Explain Detention of Three Southern Women
The Forward Party accused police of harassing three women from Thailand's deep south who were attending a political leadership training course. The women were stopped and questioned at Bangkok Central Station, with officers reportedly possessing their names, photos, and travel details. Party representative Kulthida Rungruangkiat demanded clarification on the legal basis for the stop and called for an end to the surveillance.
Kulthida Rungruangkiat, director of the Forward Party Foundation, said that three women participating in the WEPLA (Women’s Empowerment for Political Leadership) program were stopped by police at Bangkok Central Station on Oct 9 around 11:00 a.m. after traveling by train from the deep south. Officers had their names, surnames, and photos, and questioned them about the purpose of their trip, their accommodation, and the training schedule.
The women reported feeling they had been followed and photographed since boarding the train. Kulthida posed three questions to police superiors: which law and article allowed the stop and questioning of innocent travelers; who compiled the names and photos and for what purpose; and where the collected data is stored and how it will be used.
She emphasized that although the women differ in background, they share the goal of advancing justice for women in the deep south and ensuring their voices are heard in decision‑making. She said the state’s response to their peaceful political education was surveillance and interrogation, as if merely coming from the deep south is suspicious. Kulthida added she does not blame rank‑and‑file officers following orders, but urged superiors to review and end such directives, stating they constitute harassment rather than legitimate security measures.
