Thai authorities should immediately disclose the whereabouts of Thanakorn Siripaiboon, a critic of Thailand’s junta who has reportedly been held in secret military custody since December 8, 2015, Human Rights Watch said today.

An ultra-royalist organisation and a pro-coup monk have organised rallies in front of the US embassy in Bangkok, calling the US and human rights groups not to criticise the lese majeste law and to send back people allegedly defaming the Thai monarchy believed to be in the US.  

World leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly should urge Thailand’s prime minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, to end repression of human rights and quickly restore democratic civilian rule, Human Rights Watch said today.  General Prayut, who led a coup in May 2014, is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York on September 29, 2015. The theme for this year’s General Assembly is “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security, and human rights.” 

 Thailand’s junta should immediately release Pravit Rojanaphruk, a well-known reporter for The Nation newspaper, who has been detained incommunicado since September 13, 2015 for criticizing military rule, Human Rights Watch said today.

President Thein Sein of Burma should refuse to sign into law two pieces of legislation that violate fundamental rights, Human Rights Watch said today. On August 21, 2015, the joint parliament approved the Religious Conversion Bill and the Monogamy Bill, two of four contentious so-called “race and religion” laws that will entrench discrimination based on religion, and also violate internationally protected rights to privacy and religious belief.