The Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and a network of other civil society groups filed a letter with the Supreme Court on Friday (8 March) demanding bail for political prisoners.

Prakaidao Pruksakasemsuk (second from left) handing the letter to a Supreme Court representative. (Photo by Ginger Cat)

The letter, signed by 17 civil society organisations and activist groups, raises concerns about the denial of bail for political prisoners detained pending trial or appeal.  It notes that defendants should be treated as innocent until proven guilty and states that bail denial is a violation of human rights, rule of law, and the Constitution.

It also states that activists are being unfairly prosecuted for voicing dissent, a fundamental right, making them prisoners of conscience, an unacceptable practice in a civilised society. It calls on the court to act independently, professionally, and without bias during trials involving political activists to protect people’s rights. It notes, however, that the conduct of some judges when considering bail requests or conducting trials of activists has raised questions about whether the government or other influential parties are interfering with the judicial system and using it for purposes of harassment.

The letter asserts that political activists have been treated unfairly by judges and officials in the justice system. It notes that they have been denied bail or had their bail revoked when they were not a flight risk and had every intention of fighting their charges in court to protect their rights and freedoms. Instead, they have been treated as if their guilt had already been determined, and judges had often revoked their bail on the grounds that they had “repeated their offence.” Some had also been given unfair and degrading bail conditions, such as being required to wear a monitoring bracelet or completely prohibited from leaving their residences.

The letter went on to note that political prisoners who had exhausted all methods of protecting their rights in the justice system had begun resorting to other measures, ranging from staging protests to revoking their own bail and going on hunger strikes to call for justice. The signatory organisations called on the President of the Supreme Court to grant justice to the people, protect their rights and liberties, and act as a check on the administrative branch.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), at least 27 people have been detained pending trial or appeal on charges relating to political expression or participation in protests. 13 others are also serving prison sentences following a final verdict or after deciding not to appeal.

Three people are now staging dry hunger strikes to protest the detention of political prisoners. Activists Tantawan Tuatulanon and Nutanon Chaimahabut have been refusing food and water since they were denied bail on 14 February. Tantawan was later transferred to Thammasat University Hospital while Nutanon is being held at the Corrections Hospital.

They were were arrested on 13 February for several charges, including sedition, allegedly honking a car horn at and blocking a royal motorcade and for posting dash cam footage of the incident.

Mongkhon Thirakot, an activist and online clothes vendor from Chiang Rai who has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for royal defamation, told his lawyer that he has been on a hunger strike since 27 February, and that he plans to also refuse water within a week of the lawyer’s visit on 28 February. He is now detained at the Chiang Rai Remand Prison.

Meanwhile, Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who had her bail revoked for participating in a protest at the Ministry of Culture on 6 August 2023, has been on a hunger strike since 27 January. For the first month of her hunger strike, she was also refusing water. She is now drinking a limited amount of water but is still refusing food. She was transferred to Thammasat University Hospital on Friday (8 March).