<p>The cabinet decided today (30 June) to extend the State of Emergency to the end of July, even though Thailand has now gone over a month without any cases of local transmission of Covid-19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Emergency measures adopted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have been repeatedly used by Thai authorities to target government critics and peaceful protesters, said ARTICLE 19.</p>

<p>Six people who participated in the demonstration in front of the Cambodian Embassy last Monday (8 June) to call for the authorities to address the disappearance of activist in exile <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/8561">Wanchalearm Satsaksit</a> have been summoned by the police on Emergency Decree charges, said <a href="https://www.tlhr2014.com/?p=18477&amp;fbclid=IwAR1y3R-g4OcSqZjiET8QYgqmSsp1fvTljo5XtvhuqVSDzoew_ixam0y-zQM">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a>.</p>

<p>Police have pressed charges against three students for violation of the Cleanliness Act and failing to carry their national identification cards after they attempted to tie white ribbons at various locations around Bangkok to protest against the abduction in Cambodia of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit.</p>

<p>Over 400 Thais and foreigners came together in an online protest on Sunday (7 June) in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and called for justice for George Floyd. The protest was held on Zoom due to legal and Covid-19 concerns.</p>

<p>Student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal went to Huaikwang Police Station on 2 June to receive a police order forbidding him and other students from organizing a commemoration event on the 31st anniversary of the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.</p>

<p>Students have joined hands with labour organizations in submitting a letter urging the government to lift the Emergency Decree after the cabinet decided to extend it to 30 June. The letter says, &ldquo;stop using the pandemic as an excuse to oppress the people.&rdquo; Thai Lawyers for Human Rights pointed out three legal reasons why the situation does not warrant extending the Emergency Decree.</p>

<p>The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced the relaxation of some Covid-19 control measures as the number of new cases per day continues to drop.</p>

<p>Thousands of foreign nationals who are married to Thai citizens are expressing their concerns and frustrations over the Thai government&rsquo;s travel restrictions because they are not included among those allowed into the country, leaving them stranded overseas, separated from their loved ones.</p>

<p>The Thai government&#39;s extension of the State of Emergency is unjustified and is an apparent pretext for violating basic rights and suppress anti-government voices, says Human Rights Watch.</p>