The seminar titled "SLAPP Lawsuits in Power Plant Cases and Solutions" was held on June 30, 2018, at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, organized by the Environmental Justice Foundation, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Community Resource Centre Foundation, and Greenpeace. The event aimed to highlight the government's use of legal power to silence environmental activists, particularly in power plant cases, to suppress criticism of state projects.
Prasitchai Nunual, leader of the Network to Protect the Andaman from Coal, and Akradej Charkjinda from the Krabi Network to Protect the Andaman from Coal, pointed out that presenting only one side of information regarding coal power plant construction leads to incomplete public information, affecting public decision-making. They added that lawsuits suppress the movements of civil society and academics, and that the 2017 Constitution contains certain articles that limit the right to express opinions for public benefit.
Renu Vecharatpimol, an independent academic, called on academics to bravely express their opinions to help communities and protect the environment, viewing such actions as serving the common good rather than individual interests. She also proposed that government agencies review transparent information gathering and clarify facts instead of suing individuals who express opinions, as such lawsuits would be unproductive.
Tara Buakamsri, Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, stated that Greenpeace in Thailand frequently faces the risk of lawsuits, a global issue. He cited SLAPP cases in the US that have been dismissed, despite claims for damages as high as 900 million dollars. He emphasized that public communication space is crucial for driving society, and even if sued, one must continue to speak out because the space for expressing opinions is shrinking.
