Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)
established on 24th May 2014, two days following the coup in 2014, by a group of human rights lawyers and social activists. Initially as 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 2014 coup.
What is the People’s Amnesty Bill? And Why Does Thailand Need It?
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 […]
Admin21
22/02/2567
In 2023, there were at least 203 instances where citizens were subjected to surveillance and intimidation despite the change of government.
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 […]
Admin28
07/02/2567
From Classroom to Courtroom: Report Release on Children’s Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in Thailand
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 […]
admin03
12/01/2567
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
Challenging Denial of Compensation: Families of the victims of enforced disappearances, Surachai and Siam, have challenged it before the Court of Thailand
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 […]
admin62
12/10/2566
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
Summary of the witnesses testimony before judgment day, historic criminal lawsuit against the Thai Queen.
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 […]
admin62
27/06/2566
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
“Sainam” acquitted of lèse-majesté due to insufficient evidence, but convicted under the Emergency Decree and received a 6,000-baht fine
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, […]
Admin20
31/03/2566
March 2024: 1,293 political cases have been filed against 1,954 people.
In March, the number of lèse-majesté lawsuits filed since 2020 surpassed 300, with six new cases filed last month. More individuals are being imprisoned due to denial bail requests. Additionally, the police has pursued charges against participants of public assemblies, such as the P-Move protest during Srettha’s government era. Charges under the Emergency Decree are […]
Admin20
17/04/2567
February 2024: 1,279 political lawsuits were filed against 1,951 people.
While the petition for the People’s Amnesty Bill is in full swing, the situation of political prosecution remains strong. We have discovered at least seven new lese-majeste lawsuits having been filed in February. Almost all of them were brought by members of ultra-royalist groups back in 2020 – 2022 during the series of protests at […]
Admin28
22/03/2567
January 2024: a total of 1,947 people have been politically prosecuted resulting in 1,268 lawsuits
The inaugural month of 2024 saw a slight uptick in the number of political cases, characterized by four new lawsuits, including at least one lèse majesté case. The courts continued to pass judgments for cases that arose between 2020 and 2022 throughout the month, with eleven lèse majesté cases reaching the courts’ decisions. A notable […]
Admin28
19/02/2567 What is the People’s Amnesty Bill? And Why Does Thailand Need It?
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 […]
Admin21
22/02/2567
A Lawyer’s Perspective on Political Prosecution of Children: Lessons Learned from Court Cases, the Justice System, and Recommendations
(This article was first published in Thai on 20 September 2023. The statistics in this article have not been updated since then.) In a cabinet resolution in 1985, the Thai government announced the celebration of “National Youth Day” every year on 20 September. As Thailand enters 2024 with a new government led by the Pheu […]
admin03
26/01/2567 From Classroom to Courtroom: Report Release on Children’s Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in Thailand
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 […]
admin03
12/01/2567
“Thai Lawyers for Human Rights’s StatementTLHR Expresses Concern Regarding the Constitutional Court’s Ruling Finding that Proposals to Amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code Constitute An Act to Overthrow the Government”
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights’s Statement TLHR Expresses Concern Regarding the Constitutional Court’s Ruling Finding that Proposals to Amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code Constitute An Act to Overthrow the Government On 31 January 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat and the Move Forward Party violated Section 49, paragraph 1, of […]
Admin28
06/02/2567
Joint Letter: Thai officials must drop all the ongoing prosecutions under the Emergency Decree
On November 8, 2022, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights together with 23 other Human Rights Organizations submitted a letter to various foreign embassies in Thailand including the members states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC such as the embassies of The United States of America, Canada, and Australia, the European Union member states such […]
admin62
09/11/2565
Thailand: Deteriorating health and arbitrary detention of two pro-democracy activists
On 7 July 2022, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Thailand. Description of the situation: The Observatory has been informed of the deteriorating health of Natthanit Duangmusit, aka “Baipor”, and Netiporn Sanesangkhom, aka “Bung”, […]