[JURIST] Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] on Thursday called upon [report; press release] Thailand’s military to end the “spiral of repression” that has been present since the military imposed martial law in May. The report, entitled “Attitude adjustment—100 days under Martial Law,” examines the human rights conditions of the country since the military seized control. The report details issues of ongoing human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, unfair trials and restrictions on freedom of expression. Richard Bennett, AI’s Asia-Pacific Director, urged Thai authorities to “end this disturbing pattern of repression, end human rights violations, respect its international human rights obligations and allow open debate and discussion-all of which are vital to the country’s future.”

Thailand has faced political instability since the May 22 coup, and the junta has been accused of violating human rights in its attempts to maintain order. Martial law was instituted on May 20, two days before the coup [JURIST report] that ousted the former Thai government and installed General Prayuth Chan-ocha [BBC profile] as the country’s new prime minister. Since then, political demonstrations have been banned, and hundreds have been arrested for protesting the junta. A group of Thai human rights activists denounced the country’s state of martial law earlier this week, accusing the ruling military junta of imposing a judicial “twilight zone” [JURIST report]. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] in August that the junta is limiting free expression by prosecuting lese-majeste cases for defamation of the royal family. Independent UN human rights experts also called on [JURIST report] the new government to address its alleged human rights violations in June. Military police arrested [JURIST report] a Thai human rights defender and her son in their home in May. Shortly after the coup, the junta released a statement [JURIST report] asking citizens not to gather for political demonstrations.