State of emergency
27 May 2020
The cabinet decided on Tuesday afternoon (26 May) to extend the State of Emergency to the end of June, while civil society organizations have called for the Emergency Decree to be lifted, raising concerns about abuse of power in situations unrelated to the pandemic.
27 May 2020
The People's Network of 5 Regions and a network of other NGOs submitted a letter on Tuesday (26 May) demanding the government revoke the Emergency Decree as it allows for blanket use of powers without required check and balance, causing concerns about abuse of power.
29 Apr 2020
The Emergency Decree will remain in effect through May, and measures including flight bans, the night time curfew, the ban on social gatherings, and travel restrictions between provinces will continue to be enforced, announced Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin on Monday (27 April.)
28 Apr 2020
At least 10 homeless people in Chiang Mai have been arrested for breaking curfew by being outside after 22.00, says Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
23 Apr 2020
The Thai authorities are prosecuting social media users who criticize the government and monarchy in a systematic campaign to crush dissent which is being exacerbated by new COVID-19 restrictions, Amnesty International said in a new report released today.
9 Apr 2020
The Immigration Bureau announced on Tuesday (7 April) that all foreigners’ visas will be automatically extended as an effort to prevent long queues at immigration centres and control the spread of COVID-19.
8 Apr 2020
As Cambodia considers joining other Southeast Asian countries in declaring a state of emergency in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional MPs today warned governments against using the crisis to crack down on critics, assert their power and threaten democratic institutions.
7 Apr 2020
In a statement and open letter addressed to the Prime Minister released yesterday (6 April), the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) calls for the exemption of journalists from the nationwide curfew implemented last week, which prohibited people from leaving their residences between 22.00 - 4.00.
1 Apr 2020
In a statement released on Monday (30 March), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) says that while they find that it is necessary for the state to “impose measures” to control the spread of COVID-19, it finds that the Emergency Decree, in effect from 26 March to 30 April, “contains provisions which significantly restrict people’s rights and freedom,” especially freedom of expression, press freedom, and freedom of movement, raising concerns about the necessity and proportionality of the measures issued under the decree.
31 Mar 2020
The Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources issued a statement on Monday (30 March), raising concerns about the restriction to people's rights and freedom under the Emergency Decree, which limits freedom of assembly, reduce the people's participation, and close off complaint mechanism, resulting in the inability to exercise their rights according to the constitution and related bills to oppose the mineral projects.
30 Mar 2020
Cartoon by Stephff: Threat to freedom of expression
30 Mar 2020
The Thai government should ensure that the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation (2005) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic does not impose unwarranted restrictions on human rights, Amnesty International said today.
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