Amnesty International urges Thailand to revoke repressive laws

 

 

The Thai government had declared human rights a national agenda, but what had happened in reality were on the contrary as human rights violations continue unabated, said Amnesty International Thailand’s Director Piyanut Kotsan.

 

The human rights group called on the Thai authorities to revoke the Head of the NCPO Oder no. 3/2558 and other “repressive laws” that infringe on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, to bring an end to arbitrary detention, to stop trying civilians in the military court.

 

Amnesty International (AI) today (Feb 22) launched the “Amnesty International Report 2017/2018: The State of the World’s Human Rights” which documents and analyzes the state of human rights in 159 countries around the world in the past 2017.

 

It was found, according to the AI, countries including Thailand have imposed severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

 

“Amnesty International has found in 2017, human rights defenders; environmental activists; students; villagers demanding community rights; lawyers; media; academics; and active citizens in Thailand continued to endure a strenuous clampdown on their freedom of expression, either by the state or private sector,” the AI said in its statement.

 

The AI pointed out that the laws that have often been invoked included:

 

• Section 44 of the 2014 Interim Constitution;
• Section 116 of the Penal Code;
• The Computer Crimes Act;
• The Head of the NCPO Oder no. 3/2558, which contain provisions or are interpreted not in compliance with international human rights standards that Thailand is obliged to follow.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/amnesty-international-urges-thailand-revoke-repressive-laws/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-2-22

And this comes as a surprise to whom?  

 

I fully support Amnesty, but in my estimation, feel that little will improve.

 

Isolate the country


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1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai government had declared human rights a national agenda, but what had happened in reality were on the contrary as human rights violations continue unabated, said Amnesty International Thailand’s Director Piyanut Kotsan.

the only two sides farther apart than the current thai govt and human rights (due in no small part that theas govt has no clue what they really are) are the myanmar 'govt' and the rohingya

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Amnesty International urges Thailand to revoke repressive laws

i don't feel repressed ; there are still a few things things i can do; 

significant amount of them involve the bathroom and the kitchen

Thailand ‘short of normal standards’

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Amnesty report says rights defenders are facing more intimidation from governments and businesses.

 

LACK OF FREEDOM of expression has become the most prominent human rights issue globally and Thailand also fails to meet normal standards, Amnesty International said yesterday.

 

 

The NGO yesterday unveiled its 2017 report on human rights in Bangkok and revealed that defenders of human rights in Thailand and across the world are facing more intense intimidation and prosecution from the state and business sector.

 

Amnesty International has reviewed 159 countries around the globe and provided the recommendations for each country to improve their human rights protection.

 

Salil Shetty, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said that freedom of expression was one of the most serious human rights issues this year, as the governments of many countries were suppressing human rights defenders and over 100 activists were killed last year to silence them.

 

“In 2018, we cannot take for granted that we will be free to gather together in protest or to criticise our governments. In fact, speaking out is becoming more dangerous,” Shetty said.

 

The report noted that Turkey, Egypt and China were among the top offenders for imprisoning journalists for criticising the government, and Amnesty International itself also faced problems campaigning for human rights in Turkey and Hungary.

 

The situation in Thailand was not different, Amnesty International Thailand’s Director Piyanut Kotsan, said.

 

“The situation of human rights violation in Thailand under the administration of the Prime Minister and head of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is still considered very poor, as the junta still exercises the absolute power of Article 44 of the interim Charter to stop any political activists exercising freedom of expression,” Piyanut said.

 

“Many citizens are still being held in unofficial custody, civilians are still being prosecuted in the military court, and freedom of expression and gatherings in public are limited by the use of NCPO order 3/2558, which bans the gathering of more than five persons for political protest.”

 

She said the recent prosecution of the group of democratic activists known as “MBK39” showed the government did not respect the rights and freedom of the people and they did not really cherish human rights protection.

 

She urged the junta to revoke NCPO order 3/2558 and other laws that diminish freedom of speech and expression by citizens and ensure that the violation of the people’s freedoms will not happen again.

 

 

The demand to allow freedom of expression was one of the NGO’s seven recommendations to the Thai government.

 

The other suggestions included improving interrogation strategies to solve the southern insurgency, pass a law to prevent torture and enforced disappearances, stop prosecutions against human rights defenders, respect the non-refoulement of refugees, abolish the death sentence, and amend the lese majeste law.

 

Meanwhile, NCPO spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree said that the NCPO order 3/2558 is a vital tool to keep peace and order in the society and this regulation does not violate the freedom of most people.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339475

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-23

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand ‘short of normal standards’

Eureka! That´s no joke, nah. 97% of the population have never been made aware that the two words "normal" and "standards" have a possibility to be combined into an expression that really means something.

Thailand, land of  lip service.

The current government works to keep the elite happy while appeasing the rest of the world with non substantive statements and promises.  Its tawdriness is only overshadowed by its lack of guile and creativity. 

Yet another pissing against the wind exercise by Amnesty International. Doing nothing more than justifying their existence and fat salaries.

After producing a constitution that respects human rights should we now expect the govt to do just that?

saw some pigs flying today ...............lol

 

  I heard that song recently ....   UNHCR played it    !!   ...   yawwwwwnn   

Don't worry, everyone - it's all a mistake: Amnesty have 'misunderstood' the unique situation in Thailand, so our democratic soldier, Prayut, who is no longer a soldier but a politician (when it suits him to call himself that) will explain it all to Amnesty - and then they will understand. Have no fears.

 

Prayut brings not only happiness to Thailand but to the world (especially the world of human rights)!

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 20188 yr by Eligius

2 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Yet another pissing against the wind exercise by Amnesty International. Doing nothing more than justifying their existence and fat salaries.

Well what else do you expect them to do? Kick Prayuth's head in or something? Knock his pint over?

7 minutes ago, baboon said:

Well what else do you expect them to do? Kick Prayuth's head in or something? Knock his pint over?

Amnesty is a paper tiger (unfortunately). 

All help the wife get an asylum visa at less than the cost of a settlement one !

If thailand is allowed to protest they will block mainroads in BKK first (again), build forts on them from cartires, make fires from cartires and so on...have seen it all and am very glad that it's over.

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

Amnesty is a paper tiger (unfortunately). 

Just ignore me. I had a cycle ride from Hell this morning and I am in a petulant sulk about it...

4 minutes ago, baboon said:

Just ignore me. I had a cycle ride from Hell this morning and I am in a petulant sulk about it...

At least you survived it (hopefully) without harm.

Amnesty International should know the score now, after being threatening with jail after their failed attempt to embarrass Thailand in Bangkok.

 

Better moan to some other country who is willing to listen, Thailand will not tolerate foreigners trying to point the finger.

16 hours ago, Sonhia said:

I fully support Amnesty, but in my estimation, feel that little will improve.

 

They will be voted out and won't ever be back. Tear up all they did

1 hour ago, Thian said:

If thailand is allowed to protest they will block mainroads in BKK first (again), build forts on them from cartires, make fires from cartires and so on...have seen it all and am very glad that it's over.

It does not require a military coup to deal with these problems before they blossom.

Orchestration is at the heart of everything political here.

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Amnesty is a paper tiger (unfortunately). 

Even paper cuts draw blood and hurt.

The Thai military fears no weapons of war. 

But when it comes to criticism or mockery in a word, picture or internet posting the whole of the junta mobilizes to the defense of its very existence (unfortunately).

In addition to the laws cited, there is also the issue of defamation, which is a criminal offence in Thailand and truth is not a defense.  Defamation laws are used in Thailand to silence everyone and it works. No one wants to be tied up in a case in court no matter how true the statements/news accusations are. Ask Andy Hall and Jonathan Head as both have been subject to defamation cases. 

 

This country seems to be getting worse and worse.  I long for the day when free speech is  allowed here and the defamation laws are removed from the Penal Code.  

3 minutes ago, GarryP said:

In addition to the laws cited, there is also the issue of defamation, which is a criminal offence in Thailand and truth is not a defense.  Defamation laws are used in Thailand to silence everyone and it works. No one wants to be tied up in a case in court no matter how true the statements/news accusations are. Ask Andy Hall and Jonathan Head as both have been subject to defamation cases. 

 

This country seems to be getting worse and worse.  I long for the day when free speech is  allowed here and the defamation laws are removed from the Penal Code.  

Garry, it is getting worse, but i doubt the defamation laws will ever be removed. They have been so long on the books and NO goverment has ever wanted to remove them because they are useful tools to use against their enemies. Everyone uses them that is the problem even businesses. There are too many people profiting from this law.

If Westerners were as morally upstanding and as concerned about human rights as posters on here imply, they would stop visiting Thailand until the human rights abuses stopped. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Westerners couldn't give a stuff about human rights abuses in foreign countries hence they never use the collective power they have to bring about change. Lip service is a very apt description of their attitude toward freedom of speech in other countries.

8 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

They are another method in which the powerful bully the weaker of society.

 

Yes they are and like most people i wish they were removed from the criminal justice system, I just don't see it happening. I am unsure how long those laws have been on the books, but nobody tried to remove them and all have used them extensively. 

 

The ones with the power to remove them are the ones using these laws.... (not meaning junta only but all of them)

 

 

Edited February 23, 20188 yr by robblok

37 minutes ago, GarryP said:

In addition to the laws cited, there is also the issue of defamation, which is a criminal offence in Thailand and truth is not a defense.  Defamation laws are used in Thailand to silence everyone and it works. No one wants to be tied up in a case in court no matter how true the statements/news accusations are. Ask Andy Hall and Jonathan Head as both have been subject to defamation cases. 

 

This country seems to be getting worse and worse.  I long for the day when free speech is  allowed here and the defamation laws are removed from the Penal Code.  

And there is also one of the most heinous, ludicrous, outrageous, truth-smashing laws existent on the entire planet - here in Thailand and being invoked CONSTANTLY.

 

I dare not mention its name ...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 20188 yr by Eligius