UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determines “Tawan’s” detention under Section 112 is arbitrary and in violation of international law

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (Working Group), a special mechanism under the UN Human Rights Council, has published its opinion on 23 October 2023 (A/HRC/WGAD/2023/49) regarding the case of “ Tawan” Tantawan Tuatulanon, a 21-year-old student and activist who was prosecuted under Section 112 for defamation of the King. The Working Group […]

Admin20

16/11/2566

A pro-democracy activist is being prosecuted under the lèse-majesté law for livestreaming on Facebook in front of the UN buildings. Here’s why.

On 5 March 2022, “Tawan” Tantawan Tuatulannon, a then-20-year-old pro-democracy activist, did a livestream on Facebook in front of the UN buildings in Bangkok where a royal motorcade was scheduled to take place. The authorities told her to stop and leave the area. She didn’t. So she was arrested and is now being prosecuted for […]

Admin28

12/08/2566

June 2023: a total of 1,916 people have been politically prosecuted in 1,226 cases

In June, while only few new politically-motivated lawsuits emerged, the trials of many existing ones proceeded in full swing. The courts have issued verdicts for at least 12 lese-majeste cases within a course of merely one month acquitting, convicting (imprisonment), or suspending the punishment of the defendants. As a result, two more people in these […]

admin26

10/07/2566

The Court dismisses all Section 110 charges of “Obstructing the Queen’s Procession” due to police culpability and fundamental misunderstandings among parties

On June 28, 2023, in the courtroom number 904, the Criminal Court decided an important case regarding five activists namely Ekachai Hongkangwan, Boonkueanun Paothong, Suranat Paenprasert and two other people charged with an assault on the Queen’s liberty. The court acquitted all charges against the five defendants after concluding that the 14 October 2020 incident […]

admin62

28/06/2566

May 2023: a total of 1,914 people in 1,218 cases have been politically prosecuted

With the election happening last month, May started with the echoes of people who want to see political changes. Meanwhile, cases related to political expression and assemblies continue. In addition to cases already in court, this month saw at least seven new lese-majeste cases: two involve youth, one involves accusations by the Office of The […]

Admin21

13/06/2566

Lèse-majesté prosecution of Move Forward MP-elect proceeded in the absence of the defense lawyer

On 1 and 2 June 2023, the examination of prosecution witnesses in a trial of the prominent political activists and Move Forward MP-elect Chonthicha Jaengraew at the Ratchada Criminal Court proceeded in the absence of the defense lawyer and despite Ms. Chonthicha’s request that the hearings be postponed until her lawyer is available to attend […]

admin62

09/06/2566

Recommendations for Ending Political Prosecution since the 2014 Coup until the Present

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights 26 April 2023 Introduction Thailand’s longstanding political conflict is the result of an imbalanced management of power relations and structure among the state, the people, and various interest groups. This has inevitably affected the country’s political stability and allowed certain actors to resort to an undemocratic means to seize power. […]

Admin20

27/04/2566

Statistics: 34 politically prosecuted individuals were released from Electronic Monitoring (EM) ankle bracelets while at least 19 activists continue to wear them in early 2023

In April 2022, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) has concluded the statistics of politically prosecuted activists and civilians who were ordered by the Court to wear the EM ankle bracelet as part of their bail conditions. The statistics revealed that at least 61 individuals were ordered to wear an Electronic Monitoring (EM) ankle bracelet […]

Admin28

13/03/2566

Defendant in “Yellow Duck” case sentenced to 3 years in prison for “mocking” the King

On 7 March 2023, the Taling Chan Criminal Court convicted “Tonmai” (alias)—a 26-year-old lawyer in a private company—under Section 112 (lèse-majesté) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 3 years in prison for mocking and defaming the King by delivering calendars with cartoons of a yellow duck to the buyers. His sentence was decreased […]

Admin20

09/03/2566

Thailand: Urgent Appeal to Thai Government to Urgently Take Action to End Arbitrary Detention and Judicial Harassment of Get and Baipor, pro-democracy activists

On 9 January 2023, the Bangkok Criminal Court revoked “Get” Sopon Surariddhidhamrong and “Baipor” Natthanit Duangmusit’s bail and ordered their detention on the ground that they violated the bail conditions of their temporary release, granted on 31 May 2022 and 4 August 2022, respectively, by participating in the anti-government protest on 17 November 2022, during […]

admin62

20/01/2566
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