The current state of human rights in Thailand remains grim. Since Thailand’s 2006 coup, at least 5,027 individuals have been prosecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Almost a third of these prosecutions occurred between 18 July 2020 and 31 January 2024, during which at least 1,947 individuals were politically […]
Following the election in May 2023, Thailand witnessed a transition from a government led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to one led by the Pheu Thai Party. Nevertheless, surveillance and intimidation against activists, students, and politically active citizens by state authorities, extrajudicial measures that have been employed against activists since the NCPO era, remain ongoing. No […]
In commemoration of National Children’s Day in Thailand on 13 January 2024, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) is releasing a report on children’s rights, From Classroom to Courtroom — The Criminalization of Children’s Speeches and Peaceful Assemblies in Thailand. This report reveals that the criminalization of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly […]
The month of October resulted in one of the highest number of verdicts in one month, 16 in total, coming from both the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeals in lese-majeste cases. Meanwhile, three more people prosecuted for political reasons have ended up in detention. In Chiang Mai, a military officer accused activists […]
(Data as of 3 October 2023.) In September, we witnessed an increase in the number of people detained in lèse-majesté cases due to their political expression, even though their cases have not concluded. In the course of one month, the Court of First Instance has passed verdicts in 4 cases and the Court of Appeals […]
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 […]
Human Rights Advocacy Associate Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) was established two days following the coup in 2014 by a group of human rights lawyers and social activists. Initially, an ad-hoc organization, TLHR aimed to provide legal and litigation assistance to individuals who had been summoned, arrested, and detained by the military as a […]
August 2023: A total of 1,925 people have been politically prosecuted in 1,241 cases *[Information as of 5 September 2023.] In August 2023, prosecution of political expressions continued amidst the formation of a new government led by the Pheu Thai Party. There has been a slight increase in the number of both lawsuits containing lèse-majesté […]
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) was established two days following the coup in 2014 by a group of human rights lawyers and social activists. Initially, an ad-hoc organization, TLHR aimed to provide legal and litigation assistance to individuals who had been summoned, arrested, and detained by the military as a result of the coup, […]
Columbia Law School On June 13, school administrators expelled 15-year-old Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai from Triam Udom Suksa Phatthakan School. She is the youngest child known to have been charged with Thailand’s lese-majeste law to date. In a statement later released by the school, Yok’s expulsion was solely because she failed to enroll by the agreed […]
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 […]
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 […]
