<p>In a petition submitted to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, representatives from several civil society organisations have demanded that the Thai government stop returning Uyghur refugees to China and arrange for their relocation to safe-haven countries.</p>

<p>Eight months after the disappearance of activist in exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit, his family is still searching for answers, while very little progress has been made by the authorities. &nbsp;</p>

<p>An interview with Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch. What has Thailand lost in the suppression of the pro-democracy protests&nbsp;at a time when superpowers like the USA and EU have started to pose more questions about Thai politics?</p>

<p>Human rights activists, legal experts and politicians are demanding laws to protect citizens from enforced disappearance while calling on the Thai and Cambodian governments to show responsibility for the disappearance of Thai dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksit.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/styles/1200w1200h/public/multimedia_images_2018/201708asia_thailand_payao2.jpg?itok=qkiUgvZd" /></p>

<div>Instead of investigating human rights violations, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been mandated to defend the image of the military government and this new measure is likely to be permanent, said Human Rights Watch.</div> <div> </div> <div>Two weeks ago, What Tingsamitr, the NHRC chairperson, told the media that the commission is initiating an investigation into the human rights report recently released by the US State Department. What stated that according to the 2017 Constitution, the NHRC is responsible for scrutinising reports on human rights in Thailand. </div>

<div> <div>The release of Cambodian political fugitive Sam Serey early on Friday morning earned the praise of the international community while stoking tensions with Cambodian officials. But a researcher at Human Rights Watch is doubtful that his release indicates a broader change in the way Thailand treats refugees and asylum seekers. </div> <div> </div> <div>Thailand released Sam Serey on 27 April to be flown back to Denmark, where he has permanent resident status. Serey was arrested last Wednesday for overstaying his visa. </div></div>

<div> <div><em>Still no justice for Somchai Neelapaijit and countless other victims&nbsp;</em></div> <div> </div></div>

<p>In a move that raised eyebrows among human right advocates, the junta announced on 21 November, after three years in power, that human rights would be incorporated into the regime’s so-called Thailand 4.0 sustainable development initiative.</p> <p></p>

<p dir="ltr">Human rights activists are calling upon people to fight for gender equality and respond to serious violations of LGBT rights in Deep South.</p> <p></p>

<div>While the ruling junta is showing its commitment to human rights principle at the UN’s ICCPR review in Geneva, NGO workers said the such superficial commitment is just to avoid further humiliation from international communities. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Between 13 and 14 March 2016, Thailand sent 46 delegates to attend <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21377&amp;LangID=E">the second periodic report</a> on implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). </div>

<div> <div>Although the junta’s controversial new media bill has triggered outrage, human rights advocates point out that the Thai media should have been protesting the junta’s censorship regulations long ago.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 16 February 2017, at a seminar <a href="http://prachatai.com/journal/2017/02/70127">“Media (Non)Protection Bill: Freedom under Government Budget”</a>, Suchada Chakpisuth observed that public opposition against the junta’s Media Protection Bill has been weak compared to the junta’s previous proposed laws.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Suchada, a senio </div></div>