Assembly of the Poor

The Assembly of the Poor is a non-governmental organization in Thailand. Its aim is to help those affected by development projects and industries to become involved in the process of development, so that they benefit from those projects.

The group was established on 10 December 1995 on International Human Rights Day. The project was instigated by a group of villagers affected by the Pak Mun dam, but these have since been joined by people concerned about other projects in the country, and by factory workers suffering from industrial injuries.

The group's activities so far have included the organisation of demonstrations and discussion forums; the drafting and presentation of letters of protest to the government; and the making of legislative proposals.

Among the group's co-founders was Vanida Tantiwittayapitak, who was among the student activists at Thammasat University who fled Bangkok to the countryside after the brutal massacre of students during a right-wing coup. She became a leader of the Pak Mun fight in the 1990s. She died of breast cancer at age 52 on December 6, 2007 [ [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/07/headlines/headlines_30058452.php Poor mourn loss of hero] , "The Nation (Thailand)"; retrieved 2007-12-06] [ [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/07/national/national_30058462.php Hero of the poor] , "The Nation (Thailand)"; retrieved 2007-12-06]

References

*"The Assembly of the Poor in Thailand, From Local Struggles to National Protest Movement", Bruce D. Missingham, ISBN 974-9575-28-8

External links

* [http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/southeast-asia/thailand/pak-mun-dam International Rivers information about the AOP]