THAILAND NOMINATION FOR 2008 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF

UNCLAS BANGKOK 005486 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/IWI AND EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM TH SUBJECT: THAILAND NOMINATION FOR 2008 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE REF: STATE 126072 ¶1. Post nominates Dr. Pechdau Tohmeena for the 2008 Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage. ¶2. Requested information follows: -Full name: Dr. Pechdau Tohmeena -Job title: Director of the 15th Mental Health Center for the three southern border provinces, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health -Date of birth: May 7, 1965 -Country of birth: Thailand -Citizenship: Thai -Address: 27 Ram Komut Road, Tambon Anoh-ru, Amphoe Muang, Pattani 94000, Thailand -Telephone: (66-7)334-9113 and (66-8)1815-7202 -Email: pechdau@yahoo.com -Passport number: F396230 ¶3. Justification: The far south of Thailand has been experiencing almost daily incidents of criminally and politically motivated violence, mostly attributed to armed local separatist groups, that has lead to the deaths of thousands of individuals. Since January 2004, incidents in the far southern provinces have included arson attacks directed at schools and other buildings associated with the government; the placement of bombs in public areas including near schools and local government offices; killings of police and other officials; and the theft of weapons and explosives. Separatists have targeted schools and teachers, some of whom have been beheaded in front of their students. The government often does not have sufficient resources to properly care for the psychological trauma that is caused by these attacks. ¶4. Dr. Phetdao Tohmeena is a trailblazer in efforts to treat women and children victims who have suffered physical and psychological trauma resulting from the violence. She is the Director of Mental Health Center for the southern region and a secretary of the official committees studying and assisting people affected by the southern unrest. Dr. Phetdao has been named an expert to the Thai Senate's Standing Committee on Public Health, is a former member of the National Reconciliation Committee which advocated policies to address the southern violence, and was the Secretary of a Senate sub-committee that analyzed the impact of southern unrest toward the public health services. As a grass-roots mental health worker in the extreme south, and as separatists have targeted individuals working with the government, she faces considerable personal risk in carrying out her work. Her nomination will shed light on the devastating psychological impact of the southern violence on women and children, and will promote the work of those laboring to support national reconciliation in the troubled South. ¶5. Dr. Tohmeena was notified of her nomination and is willing to accept the award if selected. She is able to travel to Washington, DC in March 2008. ¶6. The point of contact for this nomination is Political Officer Guy Margalith, MargalithG@state.gov. BOYCE