Persecution of rights defenders has to end

This week the government charged Pornpen Khongkacho-nkiet and Somchai Homloar of the Cross Cultural Foundation and Anchana Heemina of Hearty Support Group with defamation and violation of the Computer Crime Act. They had published a report on 54 cases of alleged torture and other ill treatment by Thai authorities in the South since 2004.

Thailand must repeal or revise its vague and broad defamation laws to prevent them from being used to silence rights defenders and journalists. 

Also yesterday, the government used the same provisions to charge Naritsarawan Kaewnopparat, the niece of Private Wichian Puaksom, an Army conscript who died after being severely punished by soldiers on a military base. 

A military officer who alleges that Naritsarawan accused him of being involved in her uncle’s death. Although the government has acknowledged that the death was caused by torture and compensated the family, the perpetrators have faced only military disciplinary sanctions of 30 days’ detention or less. 

Thailand had informed the Human Rights Council during its Universal Periodic Review that the Cabinet was considering legislation on the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearance. The Cabinet reportedly approved the draft on May 24 and forwarded it to the National Legislative Assembly. Thailand also adopted several recommendations to protect rights defenders and investigate reported cases of intimidation, harassment and attacks against them. Prosecuting people who seek justice for alleged torture goes against the spirit of the proposed legislation. The authorities have an obligation to investigate and ensure justice, but are instead harassing and intimidating those exposing these horrendous acts.

Wilder Tayler, Secretary General,

International Commission of Jurists