Lèse-majesté
9 Feb 2017
Thai authorities are waging a campaign to criminalize and punish dissent by targeting civil society and political activists who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, a new briefing from Amnesty International said today.
Dozens of human rights defenders, pro-democracy activists and others are currently being investigated and prosecuted under draconian laws and decrees, which are used as tools to silence critics by Thailand’s military government.
“The Thai authorities have created a fearful environment w
3 Feb 2017
Thai authorities have requested Lao PDR to extradite a group of five to six Thais for producing radio programmes deemed defamatory to the Thai Monarchy, even though this would be forbidden under the extradition treaty.
25 Jan 2017
Human rights lawyers have filed a charge against Thailand’s Corrections Department after prison officers barred a lawyer from meeting his lèse majesté client.
On 16 January 2016, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) filed a charge against the Corrections Department, the Director of Chiang Rai Central Prison and a prison staff member.
25 Jan 2017
Paris, Bangkok, 25 January 2017: A United Nations (UN) body has demanded Thai authorities immediately and unconditionally release lèse-majesté detainee Pongsak Sriboonpeng, according to information received by FIDH.
In an opinion issued on 21 November 2016, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) requested that Thailand immediately re
18 Jan 2017
Despite Thailand’s famously appalling prison conditions, some ex-prisoners are preferring reimprisonment over the challenge of reintegrating into society.
The punitive slant of Thailand’s judicial system threatens offenders with heavy sanctions, but offers few rehabilitation mechanisms to address the difficulties inmates face upon returning to life outside the prison gates.
13 Jan 2017
The mother of a jailed anti-junta activist has begged his university not to expel her son after a court refused to release him to take his final exams.
On 12 January 2016, Prim Boonpattaraksa submitted a petition to Khon Kaen University asking for her son, Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, to retain his student status.
Jatuphat risks expulsion from Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Law since his incarceration means he is likely to miss his final exams on 17 January.
7 Jan 2017
An optometrist in northern Thailand has been indicted for defaming then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn last year.
On 29 December 2016, Sarawut (surname withheld due to privacy reasons), aged 32, was indicted in a military court in Chiang Rai Province for violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, and the Computer Crimes Act, which outlaws the importation of illegal
29 Dec 2016
The lawyer of the first lèse majesté suspect under the King Rama X has challenged a court’s decision to grant custody permission for his client, saying the hearing was done behind the suspect.
On 28 December 2016, Athiphong Phuphiw, the lawyer of Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa, has submit a petition the Khon Kaen Provincial Court. The petition demands revocation to custody permission of Jatuphat, which the court granted two days earlier. The petition stated that the court granted the permission without asking the suspect’s opinion.
22 Dec 2016
In a secret hearing, a provincial court has revoked bail in a lèse majesté case, ruling that the suspect insulted the authorities in a Facebook post.
On 22 December 2016, Khon Kaen Provincial Court approved a police request to revoke bail for Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa, the first person charged with lèse majesté under the reign of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The court conducted the hearing in secret and ruled that the suspect has violated bail conditions.
8 Dec 2016
The authorities have summoned or visited at least six people across the country who follow the Facebook page of an exiled academic.
8 Dec 2016
Thailand saw its first lèse majesté case under King Rama X, only two days after the king’s accession. Experts argue that this case is different from cases that occurred under King Rama IX.
26 Nov 2016
A military court has given an 8 months suspended jail term to a suspect who refused to comply with a junta order. He also faces a lèse majesté charge
On 25 November 2016, Bangkok Military Court found Sirapop (surname withheld for privacy concerns) guilty of breaching a junta order. The court sentenced him to 1 year in jail and an 18,000 baht fine.
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