On 28 August 2024, human rights defenders (HRDs) from Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) met with the diplomatic community at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok to provide briefing about the ongoing criminal proceedings against the HRDs for exercising their right to freedom expression. The meeting was attended by […]
On 13 March 2024, UN Special Procedures submitted a joint letter of allegation to the Thai government concerning the use of the lèse-majesté law by Thai authorities to prosecute individuals who expressed opinions deemed to be critical of the Thai monarchy. In particular, this letter came after the Thai Court of Appeals Region 5 sentenced […]
On 8 May 2024, Pol. Sub-Lt. Arpath Sukhanan, secretary of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Secretariat of The House of Representatives, sent a letter to Ms. Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, a representative from the People’s Amnesty Network who kickstarted the introduction of the People’s Amnesty Bill into Parliament. The letter indicates that the Bill […]
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) urgently calls your attention to the passing of pro-democracy activist and human rights defender, Ms. Natiporn or “Bung” (last name withheld), on the morning of 14 May 2024, while she was in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Her detention stemmed from her conviction on 26 January 2024 […]
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 […]
Following the decision that determined Surachai Danwatthananusorn (Saedan) and Siam Thirawut did not qualify as beneficiaries entitled to compensation under the Damages for the Injured Person and Compensation and Expenses for the Accused in the Criminal Case Act, their families have challenged it before the Court of Thailand and persist in their efforts to secure […]
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 […]
On June 28, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., the Criminal Court scheduled a hearing in the case of five activists, namely Ekachai Hongkangwan, Boonkueanun Paothong, Suranat Paenprasert and two other people charged for an assault on the Queen’s liberty. The combined charges include Section 110 of the Criminal Code for violations against the Queen or her […]
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 […]
On 30 March 2023, the Central Juvenile and Family Court acquitted Sainam of offenses under Sections 112 (lèse-majesté), 217 (arson), and 358 (destruction of property) of the Criminal Code. The judgment stated that the prosecution failed to prove that the perpetrator who vandalized and set fire to the King’s portrait was Sainam. The Court, however, […]
On 9 March 2023, the Criminal Court denied Pimsiri Petchnamrob’s request to appeal its previous decision to not grant Pimsiri permission to leave Thailand in order to attend meetings at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, later this month. As part of her bail condition in a lèse-majesté case, Pimsiri is prohibited […]
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 […]
