A Thai court acquitted 67 individuals on Friday of terrorism charges for protests that caused two airports to shut down in 2008. The protests were orchestrated by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in opposition to the then government, which was headed by allies of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Bangkok Criminal Court issued the [...]
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Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) said in a statement on Tuesday that it will petition the country’s Constitutional Court to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) because of the latter’s efforts to change the country’s royal insult law. The legislation, also known as Thailand’s “lese majeste” law, falls under section 112 of the Thai criminal [...]
Thailand politician Pita Limjaroenrat sentenced to jail for illegal 2019 opposition rally
A Thai court handed down a suspended sentence on Monday to political figure Pita Limjaroenrat for an illegal rally held in 2019. Limjaroenrat was sentenced alongside seven other individuals involved with his political party, the Move Forward Party (previously the Future Forward Party). The case centred on a rally led by the then Future Forward [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) called Tuesday on Indonesia to safeguard the well-being of Rohingya refugees who have recently arrived in the country. This appeal follows several reported incidents of Indonesia pushing back boats carrying Rohingya refugees. HRW called on Indonesian authorities to cease all pushbacks of boats carrying Rohingya refugees and to investigate and end [...]
Thailand opposition party proposes bill for amnesty of political offenses
Thailand’s progressive opposition party, the Move Forward Party submitted a draft bill to Parliament Thursday seeking to establish amnesty for potentially thousands of individuals who have been charged with various crimes during political rallies since 2006. These charges notably include offenses such as insulting the monarchy, which have drawn condemnation for not complying with international [...]
Thailand court denies bail to prominent protest leader Arnon Nampa
The Court of Appeal in Thailand on Saturday rejected the bail application of Arnon Nampa, a prominent leader of the Thai protest movement, according to a social media announcement from the Thai Lawyers Center for Human Rights (TLHR). Arnon Nampa was convicted under Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, which imposes strict penalties for defaming or insulting the [...]
Myanmar Coup Interview Series: 'The fact is, I cannot bear to live under oppression'
In the nearly three years that have passed since Myanmar’s coup d’état, the global media has shifted its attention to other crises, from the sudden withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. But despite a lull in headlines, the turmoil that resulted from the coup remains life-altering for the generation [...]
Thailand fails to elect new prime minister as progressive candidate faces court challenges
Pita Limjaroenrat, a leading progressive candidate for Thai prime minister, failed on Thursday to obtain enough votes to secure the leadership position in Thai’s Parliament. During a joint parliamentary session, Pita fell short of the prime minister position by 52 votes, despite garnering overwhelming support in the May general election over the ruling military-backed government [...]
Human Rights Watch urges Thai authorities to release teenager detained for defaming monarchy
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Friday called on Thai authorities to release a 15-year-old student activist who was detained after allegedly defaming the nation’s monarchy. Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai was arrested in Bangkok on 28 March after police accused her of criticising the monarchy during a protest rally in October 2022. She was later charged with lèse-majesté [...]
Explainer: Enforced Disappearances and Torture Finally Criminal Offences in Thailand
Recently, Thailand passed an important human rights law following significant pressure from many parties including NGOs, victims of torture, relatives of the dead and missing, and investigative journalists. On 24 October 2022, the King signed into law the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances Act which Parliament enacted on 26 August 2022. This [...]