Laddawan Tantivitayaitak

Laddawan Tantivitayapitak is a DTP alumna and prominent Thai human rights advocate whose leadership on human rights and democracy spans several decades, including distinguished service as a former Secretary General of Thailand’s Law Reform Commission of Thailand, Vice Chairperson of Political Development Council and former Chairperson of Amnesty International in Thailand.

Laddawan participated in one of the first DTP programs held in Bangkok, Thailand (13-18 May 1991) meeting and being trained by DTP Founder and Patron, President José Ramos Horta.

“Before participating in the DTP training, I did not understand the significance of diplomacy in human rights advocacy. I was a sceptic too because to me before the training, human rights is about educating and campaigning the human rights violations to hold the perpetrators accountable. However, after participating in the training, I realized the significance of diplomacy as means for human rights protection.”

Since then she has pursued many other courses and training in non-violence, diplomacy, leadership, public law, knowledge-based management, and meditation. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Chulalongkorn University, and a PhD in Integrated Science from Thammasat University.

Laddawan’s human rights activism began in 1976, a pivotal year in Thai history with the government’s brutal crackdown on student protests. On October 6, 1976, police and pro-royalist militias stormed the campus of Thammasat University, killing over 100 student democracy activists. The following days, the Thai military staged a coup.

“I was moved by that tragic event and decided to engage in peaceful, nonviolent activism.”

Laddawan joined the Coordinating Group for Religion in Society, a platform with religious leaders to foster peace, dialogue, and nonviolence in Thai society.

In 1992, the Prime Minister of Thailand appointed Laddawan as Vice Secretary General of Poll Watch committee which later registered as Foundation. Laddawan says that experience proved to be pivotal in expanding her expertise in promoting democracy and civic education to the grassroot communities, election monitoring and fostering deliberative democracy while raising awareness of the importance of civic engagement.

Laddawan met José Ramos-Horta again later in Thailand when Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant for him following pressure from Indonesia. José had been teaching on a DTP course in Asia and working with Thai activists, and they mobilised to defend him.

Laddawan continues her work for democracy in Burma and Thailand and is the Chairperson of Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma and the Secretary General of the Thailand based Open Forum for Democracy Foundation, an NGO that advances the concept of deliberative democracy. She is also Chairperson of Campaign for Popular Democracy, a democracy movement since 1979.

Laddawan remains hopeful for the future of a democratic Thailand. She believes despite many challenges Thailand is opening up and new generations of democracy and human rights activists are pushing ahead for a more open and democratic Thailand.

“The road ahead is difficult and long but there are hopes and determination among the Thai activists for a truly functional democracy in future.”

DTP is grateful to Laddawan for returning to share her experience and teach on DTP’s courses in 2023 and to participate in the DTP alumni workshops and reflections.