Tanong Po-arn
Encyclopedia
Tanong Po-arn was a Thai
labor union leader who disappeared following the National Peace Keeping Council's
1991 military coup against the elected government.
to secure the creation of a comprehensive national social security
system.
He was also a Thai Senator and the Vice-President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
- Asia Pacific Regional Organization (ICFTU-APRO).
(NPKC) overthrew the government, declared martial law
, and abrogated the constitution
. Soon after the coup, the NPKC abolished labour unions in state enterprises, leaving over 270,000 union members without trade union rights. Tanong was publicly critical of the NPKC.
in June 1991 to speak about the restrictions placed on Thai trade union activity. The NPKC denied Tanong permission to attend the conference. Tanong reported that he was followed everywhere and received numerous anonymous death threats. He told his family: "If for three days I don't contact you, that means I have been arrested; if it's more than seven days, that means I have already died".
On 19 June 1991 Tanong's empty car was found near his office in Rat Burana
district, Bangkok. After his "disappearance" his family feared for his health, as Tanong, age 55, was an insulin
-dependent diabetic who did not have his medication with him when he was last seen. His wife said; "I sent letters to every government organization to ask for information on his disappearance, but received only silence from them."
, the ICFTU, and numerous other labor unions have called on the Thai Government to make these reports public and to initiate new investigations if necessary.
In January 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
allowed the Tanong Po-arn case to be included with the cases of the missing protestors of "Bloody May," the bloody 1992 popular uprising that led to the downfall of the NPKC. It was hoped that Thaksin's decision would open up the possibility that more information may be found regarding Tanong's fate.
His whereabouts are still unknown as of 2006, and he is feared dead.
During May Day
celebrations, rallying workers can sometimes be seen wearing shirts with Tanong's photograph.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
labor union leader who disappeared following the National Peace Keeping Council's
National Peace Keeping Council
The National Peace Keeping Council was a Thai military junta that overthrew the civilian elected government of Chatichai Choonhavan in 1991. It was led by Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon, Supreme Commander Sunthorn Kongsompong, Airforce Commander Kaset Rojananil and members of the 5th Class of...
1991 military coup against the elected government.
Leader of the Thai labor movement
Tanong Po-arn was President of the Labour Congress of Thailand. Tanong played an important role in negotiating with the government of Prime Minister Chatichai ChoonhavanChatichai Choonhavan
General Chatichai Choonhavan was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan, and is of Thai Chinese descent with ancestry from Chenghai District...
to secure the creation of a comprehensive national social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
system.
He was also a Thai Senator and the Vice-President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
- Asia Pacific Regional Organization (ICFTU-APRO).
The 1991 Coup
In 1991, the military National Peace Keeping CouncilNational Peace Keeping Council
The National Peace Keeping Council was a Thai military junta that overthrew the civilian elected government of Chatichai Choonhavan in 1991. It was led by Army Commander Suchinda Kraprayoon, Supreme Commander Sunthorn Kongsompong, Airforce Commander Kaset Rojananil and members of the 5th Class of...
(NPKC) overthrew the government, declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, and abrogated the constitution
Constitution of Thailand
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand is the supreme law of Thailand. Since the change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional democracy in 1932, Thailand has had 17 charters and constitutions, reflecting the high degree of political instability and frequency of military coups faced...
. Soon after the coup, the NPKC abolished labour unions in state enterprises, leaving over 270,000 union members without trade union rights. Tanong was publicly critical of the NPKC.
Disappearance
Tanong was scheduled to appear at the International Labor Organization (ILO) annual meeting in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in June 1991 to speak about the restrictions placed on Thai trade union activity. The NPKC denied Tanong permission to attend the conference. Tanong reported that he was followed everywhere and received numerous anonymous death threats. He told his family: "If for three days I don't contact you, that means I have been arrested; if it's more than seven days, that means I have already died".
On 19 June 1991 Tanong's empty car was found near his office in Rat Burana
Rat Burana
Rat Burana is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by Amphoe Phra Pradaeng of Samut Prakan Province, Thung Khru, Chom Thong and Thon Buri districts of Bangkok while its north to east is Chao Phraya River with Bang Kho Laem and Yan Nawa districts across the...
district, Bangkok. After his "disappearance" his family feared for his health, as Tanong, age 55, was an insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
-dependent diabetic who did not have his medication with him when he was last seen. His wife said; "I sent letters to every government organization to ask for information on his disappearance, but received only silence from them."
Investigations and protests
Two committees were established to investigate Tanong Pho-arn's whereabouts, one in the Ministry of the Interior in 1992 and the other in parliament. However reports of these investigations have never been made public. Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the ICFTU, and numerous other labor unions have called on the Thai Government to make these reports public and to initiate new investigations if necessary.
In January 2003, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
allowed the Tanong Po-arn case to be included with the cases of the missing protestors of "Bloody May," the bloody 1992 popular uprising that led to the downfall of the NPKC. It was hoped that Thaksin's decision would open up the possibility that more information may be found regarding Tanong's fate.
His whereabouts are still unknown as of 2006, and he is feared dead.
During May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
celebrations, rallying workers can sometimes be seen wearing shirts with Tanong's photograph.