On 1 and 2 August 2019, bomb attacks took place in at least seven spots including the Government Complex and several public places in Bangkok. On 2 August, two Malay Muslim men were taken into in custody in relation to the bombings, namely Mr. Look-ai Saengae, age 23, and Mr. Wildon Maha, age 29. They […]
What has happened in the past five years? On 22 May 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, seized power from the Yingluck Shinawatra government, revoked the 2007 Constitution, imposed martial law and arbitrarily issued a string of announcements and orders to rule the country as it deemed […]
On 9 July 2019, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha in his capacity as the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued the Head of NCPO Order no. 9/2562 to repeal 70 NCPO Announcements/Orders and Head of NCPO Orders. Since staging a coup on 22 May 2014, the NCPO has issued a total of 557 […]
“Has the court ruled yet?” “They will rule this time, won’t they?” Defence lawyers are repeatedly asked these questions by the defendants at every hearing at the Bangkok Military Court. “It will be a long time until the next witness hearing. And my brother remains in jail. My time should be put to better use, […]
To instigate an effective military coup, an aspiring dictator or junta must oust the ruling government and abrogate the existing constitution. Over the past eighty-six years since the end of the absolute monarchy in June 1932 in Thailand, soldiers who aspire to launch coups have learned that there is a third component of a ‘successful’ […]
Monitoring harassments against politicians after the lifting of the ban on political activities ahead of the election Despite the 11 December 2018 issuance of the Head of the NCPO Order no. 22/2561 to lift restrictions on political activities despite the promulgation of the Royal Decree on the election, anti-junta politicians continue to face harassment and […]
January 2019 was yet another month awash with intense political furore. Groups in various parts of Thailand have taken to the streets clamoring against the postponement of the elections. Such public outcries stem from uncertainty around the date of the next elections rousing fear that they might be cancelled or even annulled. Towards the end […]
2018 marks the fifth year since the Thai military staged a coup in Thailand, installing the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in government. During these five years, human rights violations have continued unabated. Restrictions of freedom of expression, holding individuals in custody in military barracks, prosecuting those exercising their rights and freedoms in […]
Since late 2016, in the aftermath of the passing of King Rama IX and the accession of King Rama X, prosecutions of lèse majesté cases or the violation of the Penal Code’s Section 112 spiked sharply. The “witch hunt” or vigilante actions taken against people who hold different views led to prosecution of dozens of […]
Legal Observations on Head of the NCPO Order No. 22/2561 Thai Lawyers for Human Rights On 11 December 2018, drawing on the power afforded to them by Article 44 of the 2014 (Interim) Constitution, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued Head of the NCPO Order No. 22/2561 regarding the engagement of […]
On 6-7 and 12-14 December, witness hearings in the “An Academic Conference is Not a Military Barracks” case are being held in the Chiang Mai district court. The 5 defendants are accused of violating Head of the NCPO Order No. 3/2558 regarding the prohibition of political assembly of 5 or more persons. The accusation is […]
Amidst the searing heat of March 2010 which competed with the incumbent political heat, a massive number of members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) took to the street in downtown Bangkok to demand a house dissolution while the country was ruled under the Abhisit Vejjajiva-led coalition. They claimed the government had […]
