(New York) – Sedition charges for a Facebook photo expressing symbolic support for Thailand’s political opposition shows the military junta’s utter disregard for peaceful dissent, Human Rights Watch said today. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta should immediately end its abusive use of the draconian sedition law against peaceful critics and dissenters.
Whoever makes apparent to the public by words, writing or any other means anything which is not an act within the purpose of the constitution or which is not the expression of an honest opinion or criticism (a) in order to bring about a change in the laws or the government by the use of coercion or violence, (b) in order to raise confusion or disaffection amongst the people to the point of causing unrest in the kingdom, or (c) have people violate the law, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years.
Since the military coup in May 2014, at least 38 people have been charged with sedition – including former Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng for a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand criticizing military rule (May 2014); Sombat Boongamanong, an activist, for Facebook and Twitter posts calling people to join anti-junta rallies (June 2014); Pansak Srithep, an activist, for saying the military should be held accountable for the 2010 political violence and calling for an end to military trials of civilians (March 2015); and 14 activists from the New Democracy Movement (NDM) for staging a rally demanding a transition to democratic civilian rule (June 2015).
NCPO chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha said at a January 21 news conference that the authorities had wide leeway to arrest anyone deemed to be opposed to military rule:
Why don’t people respect the laws instead of asking for democracy and human rights all the time?… No one is allowed to oppose [the NCPO]. I dare you to try to oppose [the NCPO].... I don’t care what the international community would think about this. I will send officials to explain to foreign embassies. I am not afraid of them. I will tell them to understand that this is Thailand and we are enforcing Thai laws.
“Thailand’s friends and neighbors should make clear that with each ludicrous new arrest, the junta’s global standing drops lower and lower,” Adams said. “They should press the junta to end its persecution of peaceful dissent and fulfill its frequent promises to restore democratic rule.”