EU condemns arrest of 14 students in Thailand

[webfact]

EU condemns arrest of 14 students
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The European Union Tuesday issues a statement to criticize the Thai juntas over the arrest or 14 student activists, saying their arrest and charges for peacefully demonstrating on 22 May is a "disturbing development" and violation of human rights.

"The EU believes in the right of all to express peacefully their opinions and calls upon the Thai authorities to abide by Thailand’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms must be upheld, and military courts should not be used to try civilian," the statement said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/EU-condemns-arrest-of-14-students-30263413.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-30

[Pattaya28]

Seems reasonable.

What is the Juntas' response ?

[Laughing Gravy]

How dare they question what we do. Some serious attitude adjustment required.

[canuckamuck]

Shall we now have a heated exchange discussing whether or not the EU is hypocritical in making these comments. Or is it OK for Europe to say the same type of things America just said - resulting in much US bashing, despite the validity of the comments.

Edited June 30, 2015 by canuckamuck

[Expattaff1308]

They need to put their own house in order before they criticise others.

[webfact]

EU slams 'disturbing' Thai student sedition charges
AFP

BANGKOK: -- The European Union hit out at Thailand's junta Tuesday for pursuing sedition charges against a group of anti-coup student activists, describing their arrest and prosecution in a military court as a "disturbing development".

The fourteen detained students are part of a small network of pro-democracy campaigners who have dared to publicly challenge Thailand's military rulers after they seized power from an elected government last year and imposed severe curbs on civil liberties.

They were detained on Friday after holding a protest at Bangkok's Democracy Monument the previous day and charged with sedition, a national security offence that carries up to seven years in jail.

Their case is being handled by a military court which usually holds hearings behind closed doors and to which there is no right of appeal once convicted.

"The arrests of 14 students on the basis of charges brought against them for peacefully demonstrating... is a disturbing development," the EU said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms must be upheld, and military courts should not be used to try civilians," the statement added.

The students can be held by police for up to 84 days in pre-trial detention, although their incarceration must be renewed every 12 days by a court with the next hearing at Bangkok's military court expected on 8 July.

Sirikan Charoensiri, one of a team of lawyers representing the students, said the students were refusing to request bail in protest at being tried in a military court.

"They reject the military court's jurisdiction," she told AFP, adding they have remained "in good spirits" since their arrest.

"It's really quite serious to charge peaceful protesters with sedition. Their activities were entirely peaceful," she added.

Rights groups have described the arrests as a serious escalation in repression by the junta.

Charles Santiago, a Malaysian lawmaker and the chairman of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, described the arrests as a "disgrace".

"There's no legitimacy left for a regime that bullies and arrests peaceful students for doing nothing more than standing up for their rights," he said in a recent statement.

Thailand's generals claim the May 2014 coup was essential to restore order after months of often violent protests against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

But opponents say it was the latest manoeuvre by Bangkok-based royalist elites, backed by large swathes of the military, to scupper democracy and protect their interests.

The coup was the latest crisis in the country's bitterly divided politics that roughly pits the capital's elites against working-class voters in the northern provinces who are loyal to ousted premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.

The Shinawatras' parties have won every election since 2001 and are known for their pro-poor policies.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-06-30

[Lite Beer]

OHCHR urges Thailand to release 14 students
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) Tuesday urged the Thai government to immediately drop criminal charges against students who have been arrested in Bangkok for peacefully demonstrating in public and release them from custody.

The OHCHR also urged the junta to review its use of laws that limit freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in line with its obligations under international human rights law.

The 14 students were arrested in Bangkok for allegedly inciting unrest under section 116 of the Criminal Code.

"As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Thailand has the obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression [article 19] and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly [article 21]," the OHCHR's statement said.

"Although both articles allow the rights to be restricted, any restriction has to be by law, necessary for a legitimate purpose and proportional to achieve the need. OHCHR is concerned that criminal prosecutions for peaceful assembly and expression that carry long prison terms are not necessary or proportional."

On May 23 2014, a day after the coup, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights publicly expressed serious concern about the restrictions on fundamental freedoms imposed by the NCPO, adding that freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are particularly important in resolving difficult political issues through dialogue and debate.

"Now more than one year on, despite pledges by the Government to promptly restore the rule of law, restrictions on fundamental freedoms remain in place," the statement said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/OHCHR-urges-Thailand-to-release-14-students-30263418.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-30

[DLang]

Seems reasonable.

What is the Juntas' response ?

EU not unnerstan Thailan. EU not good, like Thai people.

[tx22cb]

The EU and US condemn the Junta .... yet there are a few fellow TVF members who blame the students for their actions (eg they were begging to be arrested).

Some people must have been students such a long time ago that they've forgotten what youthful idealism is ...

[Tywais]

I'm sure Prayut will ask them to explain this.

[Thai at Heart]

They need to put their own house in order before they criticise others.

They are busy running Greece along since they have running on IOUs to pay their membership fees.

What human rights abuses go on in the EU similar to this?

[bamnutsak]

In Junta-speak...

Deputy Foreign Minister Watchingporn today confirmed that the EU understands that the NCPO is continuing with the "roadmap to democracy", that 97.785632% of the population (including newborns, babies, infants) support the military government and that the coup has brought peace to the Kingdom.

Edited June 30, 2015 by bamnutsak

[toybits]

Seems reasonable.

What is the Juntas' response ?

I believe they will Ask the EU to Explain why they (EU) are criticizing the incarceration of the 14 student.

[h90]

How about that Assagne guy who must hide in an embassy in the EU, just because the USA wants him?

How about the Snowden guy who can't come to Germany because they would send him to USA immediately and the even forced a presidents machine down to search for him......Making Russias biggest PR show since ever....

[GanDoonToonPet]

Well done to the EU for putting pressure on the Junta. This is one of the few positives to come from the the European political bloc.

[Just1Voice]

They need to put their own house in order before they criticise others.

Didn't take long for the Junta lovers to jump on this one.

[Yunla]

They forced the students to shave off their hip and groovy hairstyles too. That would be enough to send even the most radicalised youngsters sprinting back to their homework in tears.

[alocacoc]

It looks, El Presidente is quite successful.

[Tywais]

Post contravening the pinned rules has been removed.

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[DLock]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

[thesetat2013]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Oh please!!!

Those kids went there with full knowledge they would be breaking the current laws. Whether they agree with them or not they earned whatever punishment is meeted out to them. They could have found another way to show their displeasure with the junta without breaking any laws. And NO! I am not a junta lover or hater.

[Jockey]

I just hope common sense prevails and they drop the case, give the kids a severe taking to and let them go home!

If they keep these kids in custody, its all going to blow up in the governments face in respect of poor perception abroad and a stronger will of the Thai people to get back to a democratically elected government.

Better for everyone to free them all now or as soon as is administratively possible to save face all round.

[Jockey]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Oh please!!!

Those kids went there with full knowledge they would be breaking the current laws. Whether they agree with them or not they earned whatever punishment is meeted out to them. They could have found another way to show their displeasure with the junta without breaking any laws. And NO! I am not a junta lover or hater.

You are right - they are kids. They have already been punished enough. They should be allowed home now.

[DLock]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Oh please!!!

Those kids went there with full knowledge they would be breaking the current laws. Whether they agree with them or not they earned whatever punishment is meeted out to them. They could have found another way to show their displeasure with the junta without breaking any laws. And NO! I am not a junta lover or hater.

...you completely missed the point.

It's not whether the students knowingly broke the law by protesting and upset the Junta and "earned whatever punishment is meeted(sic) out to them"...

It's that there is a law to stop students peacefully protesting.

Understand?

Please try to keep up.

[EnglishJohn]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Oh please!!!

Those kids went there with full knowledge they would be breaking the current laws. Whether they agree with them or not they earned whatever punishment is meeted out to them. They could have found another way to show their displeasure with the junta without breaking any laws. And NO! I am not a junta lover or hater.

...you completely missed the point.

It's not whether the students knowingly broke the law by protesting and upset the Junta and "earned whatever punishment is meeted(sic) out to them"...

It's that there is a law to stop students peacefully protesting.

Understand?

Please try to keep up.

I do enjoy it when people who miss the point accuse others of missing the point.

The Junta are in power because Mr T decided he would MURDER peaceful protestors to cling on to power - not arrest them. The country was heading for civil war.

Prayuth is trying to prevent those same people inciting others to resume violent actions and keep the split the population as wide as they can. They are having a hard time doing it because they can't rely on the police to protect them any more and so they are trying to use children to do it. Spontaneous protests by the general public don't happen with red-shirts like they did after the amnesty bill : they only do it if they get free transport and parties.

These students are obviously being pushed forward by those same people. If you don't realise that, you must be new to Thailand. They don't want any reforms because they might have to play fair.

The Junta will be gone soon and then after the most free and fair elections Thailand has managed to hold (where non-red shirts do not get assassinated while campaigning), these students will be free to peacefully protest against the democratically elected government as much as they please.

Do you get it yet ?.

[smutcakes]

How about that Assagne guy who must hide in an embassy in the EU, just because the USA wants him?

How about the Snowden guy who can't come to Germany because they would send him to USA immediately and the even forced a presidents machine down to search for him......Making Russias biggest PR show since ever....

This is one of the weirdest comparisons i have ever seen.

Unreported, unregulated migrant fishing workers, in comparison to someone who decided to go to a particular country for particular reasons, and with probably a lot of advice identified those places intentionally and happen to still be where they choose to be.

I am struggling to get my head around this one.

The EU, USA and many countries do have issues, but it is quite difficult to draw barrel

[Johnny S]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Sad thing is that they have absolutely NO IDEA of what human rights are ... Thailand move backwards ..

[Squeegee]

Dear Thailand,

Remember last week you questioned why the US put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setback?

This is why.

Oh please!!!

Those kids went there with full knowledge they would be breaking the current laws. Whether they agree with them or not they earned whatever punishment is meeted out to them. They could have found another way to show their displeasure with the junta without breaking any laws. And NO! I am not a junta lover or hater.

...you completely missed the point.

It's not whether the students knowingly broke the law by protesting and upset the Junta and "earned whatever punishment is meeted(sic) out to them"...

It's that there is a law to stop students peacefully protesting.

Understand?

Please try to keep up.

I do enjoy it when people who miss the point accuse others of missing the point.

The Junta are in power because Mr T decided he would MURDER peaceful protestors to cling on to power - not arrest them. The country was heading for civil war.

Prayuth is trying to prevent those same people inciting others to resume violent actions and keep the split the population as wide as they can. They are having a hard time doing it because they can't rely on the police to protect them any more and so they are trying to use children to do it. Spontaneous protests by the general public don't happen with red-shirts like they did after the amnesty bill : they only do it if they get free transport and parties.

These students are obviously being pushed forward by those same people. If you don't realise that, you must be new to Thailand. They don't want any reforms because they might have to play fair.

The Junta will be gone soon and then after the most free and fair elections Thailand has managed to hold (where non-red shirts do not get assassinated while campaigning), these students will be free to peacefully protest against the democratically elected government as much as they please.

Do you get it yet ?.

What we get from your post are your assumptions and bias, nothing more. Meanwhile, the poster you responded to actually does 'get it' - this is about human rights, where your shared, elitist suckling fantasy doesn't hold up. Your post is about as intelligent as the previous sap who wrote "Get your own house in order first" - a mindlessness you both seem to share.

[Muirton]

How about that Assagne guy who must hide in an embassy in the EU, just because the USA wants him?

How about the Snowden guy who can't come to Germany because they would send him to USA immediately and the even forced a presidents machine down to search for him......Making Russias biggest PR show since ever....

"How about that Assagne guy who must hide in an embassy in the EU, just because the USA wants him?"

There are three mistakes in this first sentence, a higher rate than usual from you.

First, spell his name right, second he's not in an EU embassy, and third, it's Sweden trying to extradite him on rape charges, not the USA.

As to the second sentence. How are you able to know "Germany" would send Snowden to the US. If you have the details, pray share. If you don't, pray stop spewing nonsense.

[Lee4Life]

They need to put their own house in order before they criticise others.

That seems to be the only answer a lot of people on these forums know! In that case nobody that I know can say anything about anybody else...so we might as well all just do as we please!

Edited June 30, 2015 by Lee4Life