Ms. Pornthip Hongchai, Ms. Viron Rujichaiyavat, Ms. Ranong Kongsaen, Ms. Mon Khunna, Ms. Suphat Khunna, Ms. Boonraeng Srithong, and Ms. Lumplearn Ruengrith are members of the Khon Rak Ban Kerd Group (KRBKG), a community-based group committed to the defence of the local environment from the negative impacts of an open-pit copper-gold mine, operated by the Tungkum company in Thailand’s Loei Province.

On March 8, 2017, police in Wang Saphung District, Loei Province, charged the seven KRBKG members for violating Article 309 of Thailand’s Criminal Code for forcing local council members to cancel a scheduled meeting. In addition, Ms. Pornthip Hongchai, one of KRBKG leaders and spokespersons, was charged under Articles 10 and 28 of the Public Assembly Act for failing to notify the authorities about the protest. The case was then transferred to the Public Prosecutor to decide whether to indict her based on the police investigation. All charges were later dropped on April 19, 2018. When rendering its verdict, the Court further stated they had merely exercised their right to free expression, which is upheld by the Constitution.

The seven were indicted for their involvement in legitimate human rights activities on November 16, 2016, when more than 200 KRBKG members and villagers marched from Ban Na Nong Bong village to the Khao Laung Sub-District Administrative Council Office in Loei Province, and peacefully staged a peaceful sit-in protest in front of the Council meeting room. The protest was aimed at demanding community participation in the decision-making process ahead of a scheduled meeting of the Council to decide whether to grant Tungkum permission to use forest land for their mining operations.