VZCZCXRO3683
OO RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #5486 2920408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190408Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0260
INFO RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4287

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