Arbitrary arrest, subsequent release and judicial harassment of 15 pro-democracy activists

Release /

Judicial harassment /

Restrictions on freedom

of peaceful assembly

Thailand

May 24, 2018

The Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture(OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Thailand.

Brief description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sourcesabout the arbitrary arrest, detention, subsequent release and judicialharassment of 15 pro-democracy activists, including Democracy Restoration Group(DRG) leader Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Mr.Sirawit Seritiwat, Mr. Piyarat Chongthep, Ms. Chonthicha Jangrew, human rights lawyerMr. Anon Nampa, Ms. Nuttaa Mahattana, human rights activistand former lèse-majesté detainee Mr. EkachaiHongkangwan, Mr. ChokchaiPairatchata, Mr. Nikorn Wittayaphan,Mr. Wiset Sangkhawisit, Mr. Putthaising Pimchan, Mr. Khiri Khanthong, Mr. Wirote Trongngamrak, and two other male activists who wishto remain anonymous.

According to the information received, atapproximately 3:30 pm on May 22, 2018, Mr. Anon Nampa, Ms. Chonthicha Jangrew, Ms.Nuttaa Mahattana, Mr. Ekachai Hongkangwan, Mr. Chokchai Pairatchata, Mr. Khiri Khanthong,Mr. Putthaising Pimchan, Mr. Wirote Trongngamrak, and two men were arrested nearthe United Nations (UN) building complex in Bangkok, during a pro-democracydemonstration to mark the fourth anniversary of the latest military coup inThailand. The ten were taken into custody at the Phaya Thai police station.

Shortly afterwards during the same protest, Messrs. RangsimanRome, Sirawit Seritiwat, Piyarat Chongthep, Wiset Sangkhawisit, and NikornWittayaphan were arrested near Thammasat University’s Tha Phrachan Campus inBangkok and taken to the Chana Songkhram police station.

The 15 pro-democracy activists were charged by police underArticle 116 of the Thai Criminal Code (‘sedition’), Article 12 of the Head ofthe National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order 3/2015 (which banspolitical gatherings of five or more people), Articles 215 and 216 of theCriminal Code (‘assembly of more than ten people threatening acts of violence’and ‘refusal to comply with an official order to disperse’, respectively), and Article108 of the Road Traffic Act (‘obstruction of traffic’).

The 15 human rights defenders were detained at the twopolice stations for 48 hours before being transported to the Ratchada CriminalCourt in Bangkok on May 24, 2018. On the same day, after initially agreeing toa police request for a further 12-day pre-trial detention, the court orderedthe release of the 15 human rights defenders, with bail set at 100,000 baht(approximately 2,600 Euros) each, on condition that they do not engage in any politicalactivities.

The Observatory recalls that the Thai authorities havea long record of judicial harassment against Mr. Rangsiman Rome[1],Mr. Sirawit Seritiwat[2],and Mr. Anon Nampa[3].

The Observatory condemns the arbitrary arrest, detention,and judicial harassment of Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Mr. Sirawit Seritiwat, Mr. PiyaratChongthep, Ms. Chonthicha Jangrew, Mr. Anon Nampa, Ms. Nuttaa Mahattana, Mr. EkachaiHongkangwan, Mr. Chokchai Pairatchata, Mr. Nikorn Wittayaphan, Mr. WisetSangkhawisit, Mr. Putthaising Pimchan, Mr. Khiri Khanthong, Mr. WiroteTrongngamrak, and two other pro-democracy activists.

The Observatory expresses concern over the ongoing trendof repression of freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association inThailand[4].The Observatory urges the Thai authorities to put an end to all forms of harassment,including at the judicial level, against the 15 human rights defenders, whichseems only aimed at punishing them for their peaceful and legitimate humanrights activities.

Actionsrequested:

Please write to the Thai authorities asking them to:

i. Guaranteethe physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Mr. Sirawit Seritiwat, Mr. PiyaratChongthep, Ms Chonthicha Jangrew, Mr. Anon Nampa, Ms. Nuttaa Mahattana, Mr. EkachaiHongkangwan, Mr. Chokchai Pairatchata, Mr. Nikorn Wittayaphan, Mr. WisetSangkhawisit, Mr. Putthaising Pimchan, Mr. Khiri Khanthong, Mr. WiroteTrongngamrak, and two other pro-democracy activists;

ii. Put anend to all forms of harassment – including at the judicial level – against Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Mr. Sirawit Seritiwat, Mr. PiyaratChongthep, Ms. Chonthicha Jangrew, Mr. Anon Nampa, Ms. Nuttaa Mahattana, Mr. EkachaiHongkangwan, Mr. Chokchai Pairatchata, Mr. Nikorn Wittayaphan, Mr. WisetSangkhawisit, Mr. Putthaising Pimchan, Mr. Khiri Khanthong, Mr. WiroteTrongngamrak, and two other pro-democracy activists, as well asagainst all human rights defenders in Thailand, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimateactivities without any hindrance or fear of reprisals;

iii.Guarantee in all circumstances the right to freedom of peaceful assembly andthe right to freedom of opinion and expression of all human rightsdefenders in Thailand;

iv. Conformto the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted bythe General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular with Articles 1, 5(a), and 12.2;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect forhuman rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international humanrights standards and international instruments to which Thailand is a stateparty.

Addresses:

· Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of Thailand,Fax: +66 (0) 2 282 5131

· Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs ofThailand, Fax: +66 (0) 2 643 5320; Email: minister@mfa.go.th

· Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Minister of Justice of Thailand, Fax: +66 (0) 2 9530503

· Pol Gen Chaktip Chaijinda, Commissioner-General of theRoyal Thai Police, Fax: +66 (0) 2 251 5956 / +66 (0) 2 251 8702

· Mr. Wat Tingsamit, Chairperson of the National HumanRights Commission of Thailand, Email: help@nhrc.or.th

· H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassador, PermanentMission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22715 10 00 / 10 02; Email: mission.thailand@ties.itu.int

· Embassy of Thailand in Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 2648 30 66; Email: thaibxl@pophost.eunet.be

Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassyof Thailand in your respective country.

***

Paris-Geneva, May 24, 2018

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal inyour reply.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (theObservatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of thisprogramme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rightsdefenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanismimplemented by international civil society.

To contact theObservatory, call the emergency line:

· Email:Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Teland fax FIDH: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT: + 41(0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29

[1] See Observatory Urgent Appeals THA 002 / 0617 / OBS 072 published onJune 29, 2017, THA 002 / 0715 / OBS 055.7 published on October 28, 2016, THA002 / 0716 / OBS 053.3 published on July 14, 2016, THA 002 / 0715 / OBS 055.1published on July 16, 2015, THA 002 / 0715 / OBS 055 published on July 2, 2015,

[2] See Observatory Urgent Appeals THA 001 / 0116 / OBS 008.2 published on May 3, 2016, THA 001 / 0116 / OBS 008.1 published onJanuary 25, 2016, THA 001 / 0116 / OBS 008 published on January 18, 2016

[3] See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 001 / 0315 / OBS 017 published onMarch 12, 2015.

[4]See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 001 / 0118 / OBS 010published on January 25, 2018 and THA 002 / 0118 / OBS 015.1 published on February20, 2018.