Bangkok - "There is so much fear in our community and in our family, but we will carry on our fight."

Pa Kobkaew said, "Our struggle against the influential people who would like to profit from our community forests has become intensely dangerous for everyone. But my husband's death will not deter me."

Pa Kobkaew is the wife of Lung Supon Sirichan who was shot dead last Aug. 11. Lung Supon, 58 years old, have fought for more than 10 years, to defend his community forest in Lampang from illegal logging. He died in the arms of Pa Kobkaew.

Pa Kobkaew, who was also active in the community forest organisation, joined the 50 participants of the 2-day consultation among women human rights defenders held here in Bangkok. The women and men came from different communities all over the country.

Lung Supon is the 17th human rights defender who was killed or made to disappear, under the Thaksin government. Khun Charoen, a well-known activist was similarly shot dead last month. He led the fight against the coal-fired thermal power plant which posed a great danger to the livelihoods of the community in Bo Nok.

"The signal is clear: Shut up or get shot!" says Judy A. Pasimio, of Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD). "With more and more large scale commercial activities encroaching upon the natural resources, the communities dependent on these for livelihood are continually threatened. The climate of fear in the communities and in the country is so real."

The level of insecurity and fear has risen, not just in the communities struggling for natural resources. This is shared by the women from the migrants communities. As they experience inhuman labour conditions in the factories, they have extreme difficulties in defending their rights. They are harassed by the factory owners, but also, there is no sufficient legal protection for their rights in Thailand. One story was shared where a migrant woman sought help from the authorities, but instead got raped. Going back home, however, is not yet an option given the human rights situation in Burma, particularly for women. The systematic rape by military of ethnic women in Burma is ongoing. "Fear is what we wake up to, and sleep with, everyday," laments one Burmese woman migrant worker.

The consultation provided space for women community rights defenders to share the different challenges that they experience. In Lampang, as the men were constantly harassed and threatened, the women took the frontline in defending their forests.

"The situation now in our community, and in our country, calls for more vigilance for everyone, including women," says Rogiyo Made from the Thai-Malay gas pipeline opposition group in Songklha.

"We make up half of the force in the struggle for our community rights. But we should have the other half, the men, sharing the other responsibilities as in housework, taking care of our children and other duties in the family." says Rogiyo. "Then we would have a stronger community struggle for our community rights, including women human rights."

"A strong peoples movement is what we need now. We are faced with tremendous challenge from this government which favors large commercial interest rather than community livelihood; and who has exhibited extreme intolerance in listening to the voice of marginalized communities," says Rawadee Prasertcharoensuk of Thai NGO-Cod, one of the organizers of the consultation.

"As we condemn the deaths of our leaders, we brace ourselves for more challenges. The women and men will not be silenced."

As for Pa Kobkaew, her main concern now is the safety of her family and the entire community. To this day, there have been no police arrests of the perpetrators of the death of Lung Supon. "I will not stop until justice has been done to the death of my husband, and the leader of our community."

The different groups of women were united in calling for - :
immediate investigation of the death of Lung Supon; and : the government to recognize, respect and promote everyone's right to defend their community rights, and women's human rights without fear of persecution.

For more information:
01-5308339 / Kingkorn Natarintarakul / Thai NGO-COD
09-7002575/ Bee / MAP Foundation
01-6557514 / Jantaravipa Apisuk / EMPOWER
01-7240580 / judy / APWLD