The Network for People’s Amnesty has called on the opposition to raise the issue of political prosecutions in the no-confidence debate scheduled for 24-25 March, urging the government to fulfil its commitments to political detainees.

Six representatives from the Network for People’s Amnesty submitted a letter to the opposition People’s Party, led by Natthapong Ruengpanyawut, calling on the opposition to raise the matter in the upcoming no-confidence debate next week.

The debate scheduled for 24-25 March is the first no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Network representative Nutchanon Pairoj revealed that since Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration and even before, many people have been prosecuted and charged with offences for exercising their political rights through protests. Many have been imprisoned, while some have sought asylum.

Among them, detained student activist Sirapob Phumphengphut began a hunger strike in February to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the use of the royal defamation law as a political tool.

The network representative further added that the ruling Pheu Thai Party, whether under the former PM Srettha Thavisin or current PM Paetongtarn, pledged to address the issue, but no action was taken by any party, particularly those in the government, which focused instead on securing Thailand’s membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Nutchanon emphasised that in practice, the government could mitigate the problem and align its policies with international human rights standards as recommended by international organisations.

In 2021, Thailand was requested to review the royal defamation law and to grant amnesty for those who faced political charges. However, the government has yet to take any meaningful action.

The Network placed its hope in the opposition party to highlight this topic in the upcoming no-confidence debate, hoping that political cases will be resolved promptly, ensuring the right to bail and the passage of an amnesty bill.

Network representative Somyot Prueksakasemsuk also stated that this issue was one of the government policies that was promised during the election. He hoped that the opposition would raise the failure to fulfil this commitment in the no-confidence debate. In addition, the situation for royal defamation detainees is deteriorating. A number have been transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Bang Kwang Central Prison, which is typically used to detain inmates facing capital punishment.

MP Sasinan Thamnithinan of the People’s Party assured the Network that the issue will be included in the upcoming no-confidence debate. She also called on the government to show sincerity by immediately implementing policies to address political cases.

Initially, the no-confidence debate was expected to scrutinise the PM and other cabinet members, but the opposition later narrowed its focus to PM Paetongtarn, citing the lack of leadership and the influence of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. The debate is being titled “the secret deal to sell out the country”, though specific details of the debate remain undisclosed.

The opposition party has been allocated 23 hours to speak in the debate, while the government will have seven hours to respond.