2010 Annual Report

Peoples Empowerment Foundation

People's Empowerment Foundation (PEF) 1/546 Nuan Chan Road Klongkum, Bungkum Bangkok 10230, Thailand tel./fax: (+66) 29466104 e-mail: info@peoplesempowerment.org web: http://www.peoplesempowerment.org

Letter from PEF Director

Dear Friends, In 2010, Peoples Empowerment Foundation nished many activities to strengthen our networks and move our ASEAN, Democracy, Southern Thailand, and Cross-border programs forward. Our Thai grassroots network on ASEAN met throughout the year to monitor the developments of ASEAN mechanisms and discuss many social, economic, and political issues important to people on the ground. Local partners now have better knowledge about ASEAN and its mechanisms and are spreading information in their communities through local initiatives and community radio programs. The network has agreed to focus on the ASEAN Community/Connectivity plans in 2011 and will work to strengthen people-to-people connections and advance grassroots peoples issues in the region. Last year was an eventful year for Thai democracy, and the democratization process will be difcult going forward. From the community discussion forums we held throughout the country, we gained a better idea of the different viewpoints on democracy, the recent political conict, and the future of Thai democracy held by people on the ground. These activities helped us to rene program priorities and to form a network of democracy actors who will participate in our program in 2011 and beyond. The focus for this year will be on democracy trainings and setting up peoples mechanisms for monitoring the next general election. PEF nished our income generation program in southern Thailand, and participants have been successful in sustaining the projects in their communities. Many other NGOs, local administrators, and the Thai government are using similar income generation models to promote local development. For 2011, our Southern Thailand program will shift focus to promote bottomup solutions to the conict. Friends in the south have requested that we facilitate village discussion forums to gather peoples recommendations for the government to address the conict. PEF will use the output to lobby Thai government ofcials and local authorities regarding southern Thailand policy and peace building in the South. Peace along the Thai-Cambodia border is also a priority for our organization and the focus of our Cross-border program. In 2010, we strengthened the relationship with our Cambodian partners and implemented activities to promote better understanding and peace between the people and governments of both countries. A joint Khmer-Thai committee was established for long-term peace efforts, which we will continue in the next year. With the border situation worsening, we will work with our Cambodian friends to respond to conict and promote sustainable peace between the countries.
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PEF thanks all of our partners, friends, and donors for working with us in 2010, and we look forward to cooperating further to advance peace, human rights, and democracy in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Sincerely,

Chalida Tajaroensuk Director Peoples Empowerment Foundation

Contents
Our Organization ASEAN Cross-border Democracy Southern Thailand Other support and participation 5 6 11 13 17 19

Our Organization
Peoples Empowerment Foundation (PEF) is a registered independent non-governmental organization that was established in 2006 to address the needs of grassroots civil society networks in Thailand. PEF acts as the secretariat for a coalition of community-based organizations (CBOs) and maintains close working relationships with other partner organizations and networks within the country and throughout Southeast Asia. Our mission is to create sustainable mechanisms for community organizations, grassroots coalitions and other civil society actors to work together to advance human rights, peace, and democracy. Our objectives are: To increase the organizational capacity of community-based organizations and grassroots networks in Thailand; To facilitate direct people-to-people engagement between various community organizations and networks for the purpose of cultivating a civil society movement promoting human rights, peace and democracy in Thailand. PEF is a member organization of the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), a member of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Southeast Asia Regional Steering Group, and the Thailand focal point for the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on Freedom of Information, SAPA Working Group on Peace and Security, SAPA Working Group on the United Nations and SAPA Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights. Board: Mr. Suraporn Chaicharn of the Northeastern Community Network, President Mrs. Pratueng Chuaykliang of the Training and Development Center for Women, First Vice President Mr. Siripong Taleb of the Southern Thailand Network, Second Vice President Mr. Tongbai Singseeta of the Organic Farm Network of Central Thailand, Committee Member Mr. Prasarn Praditsopon of the Community Radio Network, Committee Member Mrs. Chalida Tajaroensuk, Secretary Ms. Uracha Chatikanon, Treasurer Staff: Chalida Tajaroensuk, Director Pei Palmgren, Researcher / Program Development Officer Kulnipa Panton, Program Officer Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Human Rights Research / Advocacy Officer Kirti Sachasingh, ASEAN/UN Program Officer Patcharee Sae-eaw, Advocacy Officer Chaiwat Trakannatsanti, Democracy Program Officer Nichaya Yindeelarp, Administrative Officer Uracha Chatikanon, Finance Officer

ASEAN
PEF has facilitated the development of a Thai grassroots network on ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) since 2008, educating local partners on ASEAN and promoting their voices at national and regional platforms. As a continuation of our ASEAN program, in June 2010 PEF initiated several local, national, and regional activities aimed at fostering grassroots peoples engagement with ASEAN and facilitating people-to-people connections throughout the region. Activities for 2010 included meetings of the Thai grassroots network on ASEAN, support for community initiatives, local and national training workshops, people-to-people exchange trips, and participation in regional civil society campaigns and initiatives. The main objective of our ASEAN activities at the national level has been to develop peoples mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of ASEAN agendas and mechanisms, with particular focus on the Socio-cultural and Political security Community Blueprints and the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

[activities]

1st ASEAN Network Meeting Regent Ramkamphaeng Hotel, Bangkok 11-12 June 2010 The first ASEAN network meeting was organized to update PEFs network partners on ASEAN developments and to discuss activity plans for the years program. The 50 participants from all regions of Thailand representing several issue areas (labor, womens, ethnic minorities, farmers, community radio, etc.) took part in panel discussions on the environment mainly the situations along the Mekong River ASEAN free trade agreements (FTAs), migrant worker issues, democracy, and the Thai-Cambodia border dispute. They also received updates on the three ASEAN pillars, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on Women and Children (ACWC). The networks action plan was discussed on the second day, with partners agreeing on local initiatives, peopleto-people exchanges, and other activities to be carried out for the rest of the year. Resource people included PEF staff, Carl Middleton of the International Rivers Network (IRN) and Chulalongkorn University; Panwadee Thongdang, researcher on agriculture and free trade agreements; and Bom Adisorn, expert on migrant issues. Southern Thailand FTA Workshop Narathiwat 18 June 2010 At the request of network partners from the south, a small workshop was led by PEF staff to educate 30 participants from Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces about free trade agreements (FTAs) being negotiated by ASEAN member states and the potential impact such agreements will have on their lives. Such information was new to the participants, many of who are involved with small businesses that trade products across the border with Malaysia.

Community and Democratic Rights Youth Camp Suanson Beach Rayong 9-11 July 2010 PEF gave support for network partners from the Children of the Community group at Burapha University, Rayong, to organize this camp, which aimed to educate emerging youth leaders about community and democratic rights and to strengthen the community rights movement in the area. Environmental rights and the right to determine development projects in their communities were central issues. ASEAN policies were also discussed in relation to peoples roles in protecting community rights. ASEAN Youth Camp Ratchaburi 4-6 August 2010 For this camp, supported by PEF and organized by the Thai-Karen Network for Culture and Environment, workshops were held at three schools in Ratchaburi to train 50 student leaders about ASEAN. The camp included many games and interactive exercises used to help students better understand ASEAN mechanisms and processes. Main resource persons for this training were the key youth network partners of PEF. 2nd ASEAN Network Meeting Student Christian Center, Bangkok 16 August, 2010 Fifty participants from PEFs network attended the meeting and took part in panel discussions on ASEAN connectivity, refugees in Southeast Asia, ASEAN and disability rights, and the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute. In the afternoon, participants made plans for the forthcoming exchange trip to Vietnam and participation in the ASEAN Peoples Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. Partners from the community radio network broadcasted information from the meeting to community members. National Consultation on the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Student Christian Center, Bangkok 17 August 2010 Eighty participants attended this consultation, which was co-organized by Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) to foster better
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understanding of the AICHR and other regional human rights mechanisms. Forum-Asias Executive Director, Yap Swee Seng, presented a comparative look at the American Human Rights Council, the African Human Rights Council, and the European Union Council while Ms. Atnike Sigiro updated participants on AICHRs 5-year plan, the Rules of Procedure (RoP) and the planned ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). Participants discussed ways for civil society to engage in AICHRs development process and a Thailand position paper was later released. ASEAN Community Radio Program Network Meeting PEF Office, Bangkok 29 August 2010 The Community Radio Program for ASEAN was set up in 2009 to disseminate ASEAN information to people at the community level. The network consists of 20 partners covering over 500 stations, with goals to expand to 50 partners covering 700-1000 stations. In addition to broadcasting material related to ASEAN, the network spreads information related to people-to-people activities, democracy issues, and other topics. On March 25th, 2010, the Community Radio Program on ASEAN received an award from the ASEAN Association of Thailand for its role in distributing ASEAN knowledge to local people. This meeting was organized for partners to discuss ways to develop the network and improve program methodology and content. Plans were agreed to improve knowledge through information sharing and media trainings, to set up sub-regional coordinators, and to catalogue contact information for resource person to interview. Thai-Vietnamese Peoples Exchange Cantho / Ho Chi Minh City / Danang / Hoi-An / Hue / Hanoi, Vietnam 18-29 September 2010 In the past, PEFs people-to-people exchange programs (Indonesia and Cambodia) have helped foster better understanding of neighboring countries among our ASEAN network partners. Twenty-three such partners participated in the Thai-Vietnamese program, during which they met with Vietnamese people in several locations to learn about historical, political, economic, and cultural issues in the country. For three days during the trip, participants attended the ASEAN Peoples Forum in Hanoi, after which they spent two days visiting Vietnamese organizations such as the Vietnamese Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), the Thai-Vietnamese Association, the Vietnamese Peace Committee as well as the Thai Royal Embassy in Hanoi.

AMONG UNITY DIVERSITY

PARTICIPATION
TRANSPARENCY
- ASEAN Peoples Motto

ASEAN Peoples Forum 6 workshops Hanoi, Vietnam 23-26 September 2010 PEF served as a key organizer, in cooperation with national and regional partners, for two workshops during the ASEAN Peoples Forum (APF) in Hanoi: Human Rights and Democracy and Refugees and Displaced People. The Refugees and Displaced People workshop panel, consisting of Mr. Veerawit Tianchainan, Executive Director of the Thai Committee for Refugees; Mr. Pei Palmgren of PEF; and Ms. Temme Lee, Refugee Coordinator of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), discussed refugee issues and concepts, the regional picture of refugees and displaced people, national situations, and group case studies. Following a question and answer session, the 70+ workshop participants agreed on a list of recommendations for better refugee protection to be included in the APF statement to ASEAN heads of state. The Human Rights and Democracy Workshop included presentations from Dr. Carolina Hernandez of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS), Ms. Kamala Chandrakirana of the Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women, and Yap Swee Seng, Executive Director of Forum-Asia. Topics discussed included democratization processes in ASEAN countries, different conceptions of human rights and democracy, challenges of addressing diversity within ASEAN, the relationship between human rights norms and a democratic governance system, and womens issues in Southeast Asia. Workshop recommendations for strengthening human rights and democracy in the region were agreed upon and submitted for inclusion in the final APF statement.

Publication: Refugee Protection in ASEAN: National Failures, Regional Responsibilities November 2010 In November 2010, PEF released a report to highlight key issues and concerns related to refugee protection, or lack thereof, in Southeast Asia by outlining three refugee case studies the Rohingya, Khmer Krom, and Lao Hmong that reveal several glaring gaps in refugee protection in multiple ASEAN countries. The report considers ASEANs recent responses to refugee problems and urges the bloc to affirm refugee rights and strengthen protection throughout the region. Copies were distributed to civil society partners as well as ASEAN SecretaryGeneral, Surin Pitsuwan. A Thai translation of the report is also being distributed to relevant Thai authorities. 3rd ASEAN Network Meeting St. Gabriel Center, Bangkok 13 December 2010 Approximately 30 participants attended the last ASEAN network meeting of 2010. Mr. Pradap Pibolsongkram, representative of ASEANs High Level Panel gave a lecture on the ASEAN Connectivity plan, which aims to work towards the achievement of an ASEAN community by 2015. In the afternoon, representatives of workers and farmers groups shared experiences and discussed prospects for engaging with ASEAN mechanisms in their future work. Network partners finished the meeting by evaluating the years activities and planning the direction of PEFs ASEAN program. Partners agreed to focus on the ASEAN community and connectivity plans by developing a peoples connectivity action plan. Initiatives for improving community information sharing and IT abilities were also discussed, and continuing activities at the national and regional level were agreed. National training on ASEAN St. Gabriel Center, Bangkok 14-15 December 2010 This training, co-organized by Forum-Asia, included 25 Thai civil society actors who learned about ASEANs mandate, mechanisms, and thematic committees. Participants gained a better understanding of such topics and have expressed interest in working with the relevant bodies to advocate for the issues that they represent in their respective organizations.

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Cross-border
In 2010, we maintained our focus in the Cross-border program on issues related to Cambodia-Thailand relations, addressing current affairs such as the ongoing border dispute as well as lasting historical conicts in order to foster better understanding between Khmer and Thai people. In partnership with the Buddhist and Khmer Society Network (BKSN) of Cambodia and with cooperation from the Working Group for Peace (WGP) and Sisaket Rajabhat University, we began the Khmer-Thai Reconciliation Project (KTRP). This long-term initiative has aimed to foster understanding and trust between Cambodians and Thais through people-to-people activities, with a focus on people who live in border communities, and to urge the Thai and Cambodian governments to work for peace and respect human rights along the border. In addition, activities serve to promote the voices of people most affected by the conict at the border. For updated information on the ongoing project, please visit the website: http://www.ktpr.wordpress.com

[activities]

Khmer-Thai Peoples Exchange Siem Reap, Cambodia / Sisaket, Thailand 25-28 June 2010 An exchange trip was organized by KTRP partners to foster better understanding between Cambodian and Thai people about the two countries past and current issues. A total of 157 participants 83 from Cambodia and 74 from Thailand took part in the activities held in Siam Reap, Cambodia and Sisaket, Thailand. Participants included members of border communities affected by recent conflict, NGO staff, Buddhist monks and members, academics, youth organizations and students, government officials, and the members of the media from both countries. Activities at Wat Preah Intt Korsa and the surrounding area in Siem Reap included a Good Past and Bright Future of Cambodia and Thailand workshop, group discussions and sharing, cultural exchanges, joint meditation activities, and social trips. All participants signed a joint commitment to working for a stronger relationship between Khmer and Thai people and appealing to both governments to address conflicts in a peaceful manner to maintain harmony between the two countries. Cultural exchanges and discussions continued across the border in Phumsaron village of Sisaket province, Thailand, where many participants from Cambodia traveled to meet with Thai villagers. In the final meeting, at Rajabhat University, it was agreed that a joint Khmer-Thai Peoples Reconciliation Committee be set up for long-term development of the project. Since then, the committee has met several times to plan the next phase of the KTRP. Bangsokol ceremony Reachea Samrong temple, Samrong City, Odarmeanchey province, Cambodia 2 August 2010 PEF participated in a Bangsokol ceremony, led by BKSN, to send merit to people who have been killed by Thai soldiers along the Cambodian-Thai border, to express concerns about the human rights situation, and to call for justice, peace and harmony along the border. Organizers also used the opportunity to present information from the ongoing KhmerThai Peoples Reconciliation Project.
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Press Conference: Listening to Voices of the Voiceless Victims of the Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Bangkok 13 September 2010 During this event, villagers living near the Cambodia-Thai border shared with media and other foreign friends their stories about life since the current border conflict. Panelists included the father of Saing Rith, a 16-year-old boy who was killed by Thai soldiers near the border, and Chit Panpop, a Thai merchant who lost her livelihood due to the militarization of the border. Panelists and representatives from PEF and the BKSN made a joint appeal to the Thai government for justice and to the Cambodian and Thai governments to address the conflict in a peaceful manner. The group later met with the chair of Thailands National Human Rights Commission and shared their experiences with the Thai public on a Voice TV talk show.

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Democracy
Beginning in 2009, PEFs Democracy program has sought to foster open dialogues about Thailands democratization process among a variety of people from Thai civil society, including activists, academics, and people in local communities. In 2010, a tumultuous year for Thailands democracy, PEF shifted our focus to local communities, seeking to collect grassroots peoples diverse views and understandings of Thai politics, democracy, and current events in the countrys ongoing political crisis. In addition to two seminars, several community forums and issue-based discussions were held, and a book synthesizing the output will be published in March 2011.

[activities]

Seminar: Rights and Freedoms in Political Conflict Situations Today Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 8 April 2010 The 25 participants of this seminar consisted of leaders and representatives of several politically active Thai groups, including yellow shirts, red shirts, white shirts (advocating for peaceful conflict resolution) and a multi-colored group. Discussions focused on human rights principles and their relation to the political conflict. Differing viewpoints and analysis were discussed and debated. Nonthaburi Province community forum Nonthaburi Provincial Hall 22 and 30 April 2010 The discussion in Nonthaburi province (Central Thailand) was divided into 4 sessions Right to Freedom and Equality, Rule of law, Good Governance, and Peoples Politics taking place on two days. The 50 participants included representatives of civil society organizations who have close relationships with both the people of the province and local government agencies. Discussion topics included the role of government in fostering a democratic society through social policies, and fund allocation for local development projects. Conceptions of representative democracy as well as problems stemming from the close association between executive and legal sectors were also discussed. Labor leaders forum Bangkok 10 May 2010 This discussion was held to learn views and hear democracy analysis from the viewpoint of organized labor in Thailand. Discussion topics included unfavorable working conditions resulting from foreign investment, abuse of power by government officials, Thai peoples conservative conception of participation in politics, and problems with the current justice system, which relies on one judge to rule on a case rather than a jury. Solidarity Network for Peace appeal to the United Nations United Nations Building, Bangkok 19 May 2010 PEF and other regional and local NGOs working on democracy and human rights issues formed a coalition, Solidarity
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Network for Peace, and submitted an appeal to the United Nations in Bangkok to push for a peaceful resolution to the political conflict and requesting a Special Rapporteur visit to investigate human rights abuses that occurred during the political protests. Five representatives of the coalition presented the appeal and deliberated with Homayoun Alizadeh, Southeast Asia Regional representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The coalition also communicated with red shirt leaders and the government, urging them to end the conflict through peaceful means. Human rights documentation training workshop St. Gabriel Center, Bangkok 31 May 1 June 2010 This training, co-organized by PEF and Forum-Asia, aimed to teach Thai human rights defenders methods for documenting human rights abuses and writing reports to the UN Special Rapporteur regarding the government crackdown of political protests that lasted from March-May 2010. The 50 participants, including democracy activists, student groups, PEF staff, and other civil society actors, learned about basic human rights principles and standards, UN mechanisms, documentation techniques, and media advocacy. After the training, a working group was established to collect information about human rights violations and to write a report to be submitted to the UN. Chiang Mai community forum Huang Narin Temple, Chiang Mai 4 June 2010 This forum was held in Chiang Mai after the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation (Emergency Decree) had already been declared. With the government crackdown on red shirt protesters occurring weeks earlier, the atmosphere was tense and participants refrained from talking about the national political situation out of fear of being associated with particular groups and the risks of repression that came with such association. Instead, discussions focused on problems at the local administration level, particularly corruption among local officers. Udon Thani community forum Chan Kraphor Hall, Vocational Center, Udon Thani College 6 June 2010 Attendance for the forum (16 people) was lower than expected, likely due to the continued enforcement of the Emergency Decree in the province. At the time, rioters had burned the Udon Thani provincial hall after the government crackdown on protesters in Bangkok (May 19) and many of the provinces residents had been arrested. Those that attended took park in heated discussions on vote buying and the meddling of ballots, which many had claimed were part of Thai political tradition. Also central to the debate was the issue of appointment and election of officials. Many expressed that they have not been well represented by officials who had been dispatched by the central government and do not understand concerns of the locals.
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Ratchaburi community forum Meeting Hall, Ratchaburi 9 June 2010 This forum was very active, with the 26 participants engaging in impassioned debates on topics such as vote-buying, electing local representatives, the importance of leaders representing communities rather than focusing on territory (the governments focus), the role of religious or elderly leaders in communities, and more. The issue of vote buying was particularly controversial, with some who had been educated in Bangkok viewing the practice as a long-standing tradition deeply infused in the political system and other locals calling for a total elimination of such corruption. Based on these discussions, PEF has decided to follow up on these issues in future activities.

Fact-finding in Ubon Ratchathani and database establishment Ratchathani Province 17 June 2010 PEF Democracy Program Officers worked with the Peoples Information Center on the April May 2010 Crackdowns (PIC) to collect information about those detained in the Ubon Ratchathani prison under the Emergency Decree. There were a total of 45 people detained for taking part in protests and allegedly violating the decree. Collected information was handled by PIC and sent to lawyers who took the cases as pro-bono work. One of PEFs Program Officers also helped PIC to establish a database to systematically store cases and information collected in the field. PEF statement regarding the Emergency Decree and arrest of Mr. Sombat Boonngamonong 5 July 2010 PEF released a statement urging the release of social activist, Sombat Boonngamonong, who was arrested by state officials under the Emergency Decree. The statement called for just judicial processes in government dealings with cases relating to the crackdown of red shirt protests. Phatthalung community forum Barista Terrace Office, Phatthalung Province 10 July 2010 This open and informal forum included local administrative officers among the 30 participants. Participants discussed the meaning of democracy and reviewed examples of past regimes in Thailand, with the majority agreeing that Thailand has never had a proper democratic system. Several thought that the current administration wasnt helping to progress democratization in the country, citing abuse of power and problems with good governance, rule of law, and other
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democratic principles. Local administrative officers also confirmed that vote-buying or buying voices was prevalent in campaigns, stating that the practice was common in cases where loyalty to certain parties or officers was already known and used especially to counter the threat of other parties using the strategy to gain popularity. This forum was notable for the high level of engagement and openness of discussions. Rayong community forum Silathamaram Palace Temple, Rayong province 16 July 2010 Most of the 30 participants of the forum were local environmental activists and human rights defenders. Discussions covered rights of individuals, the perceived need to overhaul the educational system (in the classroom and beyond) in Thailand to foster respect for law, human rights and democratic principles. There was also debate about the system of decentralized decision-making and suggestions on changing the structure of administration in government policies to increase the participation and decision-making ability of people at the local level. Media and community radio station forum PEF Office, Bangkok 22 August 2010 This small forum (10 participants) focused on the ways in which the government has limited the medias freedom of expression by implementing the Emergency Decree, through coercion, personal threats, and imposing ultimatums and stipulations on those expressing the views of or sympathizing with opposition groups. Participants also expressed displeasure with efforts by the government, since the 1997 constitution, to push for an emphasis on business/economics in the media. All agreed that the media should include the involvement of all people, not only elite groups. Seminar: Politics Built on Ordinary People Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 4 September 2010 The 34 participants of the seminar included representatives of red and yellow shirt groups, labor leaders, and others. Those from both red and yellow camps agreed that each group had several views in common with each other, but the small percentage of irreconcilable differences has prevented any compromise by either side. The reds expressed views of the lower class as a newly awakened sleeping giant that is now fighting against the longstanding abuse of power by elites. Those representing the yellow shirts stated that the reds association with former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra was what was preventing any type of mutual understanding and political compromise. Labor issues and struggles of people affected by large development projects were also discussed.

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Southern Thailand
Since 2004, the ongoing conict in the southernmost provinces of Thailand Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala has claimed the lives of nearly 5,000 people, mostly civilians. Amid the conict, people in both Muslim and Buddhist communities have suffered from the ghting between military and insurgent groups. Such violence has created severe economic problems as well, with communities in southern Thailand suffering from the worst economic conditions in the country. For the past year, PEF has focused our southern Thailand work on a pilot income generation program for women and youth who have been affected by the violence. The program has aimed to generate local income by building the capacity of occupational collectives to produce, package, and sell goods made from local resources. Participants included teachers who have been left unemployed due to school closings as well as groups of unemployed male youth who have previously faced legal troubles for breaching the provinces strict security laws. The focus of this program will shift in 2011 to community forums and bottom-up lobbying and advocacy for solutions to the conict, with a long-term goal toward peace talks.

[activities]

Northern Thailand Learning Exchange Chiang Mai and Lampoon 10-15 February 2010 In February 2010, women and youth participants from southern Thailand visited communities in Chiang Mai and Lampoon, where people have had success in generating income by selling crafts made from local resources. Participants observed production processes and learned business and technical methods practiced by each group. In addition, they gained ideas for using materials from their locales to make products. The trip helped to develop peopleto-people links between those from southern and northern Thailand, which will be fostered in future activities. Vocational training workshops Yala province May-July 2010 After groups of women and youth from southern Thailand developed and presented to PEF their income generation proposals, five project plans were approved for small fund support, and small vocational training workshops were organized for dried flower arrangement and liquid/bar soap projects in Yala province. Participants learned advanced production techniques to be utilized in their own projects. Small fund support and project startup Pattani, Narathiwat, Pattani June-October 2010 Small startup funds were provided for all group projects, as follows: 1. Dried Flower arrangement for a group of 20 women from the Koowing community, Yala disctrict, Yala province: In addition to enhancing the economic security of the women and their families, a portion of the profits will contribute to small community development projects, including cooperative savings systems, and funds for emergencies such as flooding.
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2. Bar and liquid soap production for 11 housewives from Mooban 2, Kalaw tambon, Muang district, Yala province: Profits from the soap, which are sold at local events throughout the three provinces, will supplement income gained from their existing rubber trade. 3. Dates (dried fruit) business: With over 85% of people living in Thailands Deep South practicing the Muslim faith, selling dates during the Ramadan season (traditionally used during the fasting period) is a lucrative endeavor. PEF provided funds for the purchase of large quantities of dates, which were sold for a profit to local households. 4. Batik-ware production for a group of former teachers who lost their jobs as a result of school closings: The women began stitching such products as male shirts; female shirts, skirts, dresses and scarves; hair ties; tissue boxes; bags; etc. 5. Fish pond/farming for a group of unemployed youth from district, Pattani Province, who were previously in juvenile detention after breaching security. Profit from the business has been used to cultivate lemongrass and papayas to be sold at the Malaysia-Thai border. Support for women to attend UN workshop Dili, East Timor 29 June - 1 July 2010 PEF supported two women from southern Thailand to attend a workshop on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Dili, East Timor. These women gained a better understanding about key issues and challenges for women in Burma, East Timor, Mindanao, Aceh and southern Thailand. In addition, they learned how to utilize UN mechanisms to campaign for peace.

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Other PEF support and participation

Sat on the Program Committee and participated in preparatory meetings for the ASEAN Peoples Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. A senior Program Ofcer served as a key facilitator and resource person for economic, social, and cultural rights workshops for Burmese and Thai labor groups throughout the year, organized by the Foundation for Education and Development (FED). Administered small income generation loans for community groups with support from the Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI). PEF is the Thai partner the Asia Human Rights Monitoring System (ARMS) project, carried out by the Southeast Asia Center for e-Media (SEACeM). Two PEF ofcers conducted eld research and input data for this project, which will continue in 2011. PEFs Director served as a resource person on ASEAN during the Regional Training on Disability Gender and Development at APCD in Bangkok, 12 March, 2010. Participated in the SAPA Taskforce on ASEAN and Human Rights eight-country strategic meeting in Kuala Lumpur, 1-2 September 2010. A PEF researcher presented as a resource person during the Refugees and Displaced Peoples workshop at the ASEAN Peoples Forum in Hanoi, September 26, 2010. PEFs ASEAN Program Ofcer served as a resource person for a national training and study session on human rights in Hanoi, Vietnam; organized by Forum Asia in partnership with Vietnam National University School of Law, October 11-12, 2010. PEFs Director served as a resource person during the Dialogue on Democracy and ASEAN Integration (DODAI), organized by the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS), Philippines on November 4-7, 2010. Facilitated 2 workshops, with PEFs Director serving as a resource person during the ASEAN Disability Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, 1-2 December 2010.

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2010 Donors

American Friends Service Committee

ASEAN Association -- Thailand

Asian Coalition for Housing Rights

The Community Organizations Development Institute

The May 18 Memorial Foundation

National Endowment for Democracy

Open Society Institute

Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation in Human Development

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

United States Embassy in Thailand

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