The conviction of Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork for royal defamation charge was a violation of freedom of expression and sends a message to opposition party members to keep silent, says Human Rights Watch, who call for such use of the justice system to silence opposition lawmakers to be taken in account by countries being asked to consider Thailand’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council.

<p><a href="http://www.hrw.org/thailand" target="_blank">Thai</a>&nbsp;authorities should immediately and unconditionally release prominent human rights lawyer Anon Nampha and democracy activist Panupong Jadnok, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/08/thailand-drop-charges-release-democracy-activists">Human Rights Watch</a> said on Saturday (8 August).</p>

<p>The Thai Supreme Court’s dismissal of criminal charges against a former prime minister and his deputy for their role in the deadly crackdown on “Red Shirt” protesters in May 2010 is a serious setback for justice in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrw.org/asia/thailand">Thailand</a>, Human Rights Watch said today. International human rights law makes clear that official status cannot justify immunity from criminal responsibility for serious human rights violations.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.hrw.org/asia/thailand">Thai</a>&nbsp;authorities should immediately drop charges against a prominent academic and four conference participants for violating the military junta’s ban on public assembly at a conference at Chiang Mai University in July 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The International Conference on Thai Studies included discussions and other activities that the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta deemed critical of military rule.</p>

<p><span>The&nbsp;</span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=https://www.hrw.org/asia/thailand&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1493877498176000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGihXeZjPvcVJ71YrHm4kdOJk6N0g" href="https://www.hrw.org/asia/thailand" target="_blank">Thai</a><span>&nbsp;government should immediately disclose the whereabouts of Prawet Prapa</span></p>

<p>The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hrw.org/thailand">Thai</a>&nbsp;government should urgently take the final steps to ratify the international convention against enforced disappearance, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also end all delays in passing implementing legislation to criminalize torture and disappearances.</p>