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FIDH–INTERNATIONALFEDERATIONFORHUMANRIGHTS

UNIONFORCIVILLIBERTY(UCL) INTERNETLAWREFORMDIALOGUE(iLAW)

JOINTSHADOWREPORT

UnitedNationsHumanRightsCommittee(CCPR)119thsession,6-29March2017

THAILANDThe Thai government’s second periodic report under Article 40 of the InternationalCovenantonCivil andPolitical Rights (ICCPR),whichwasdue tobe submitted in 2009, iscompletelyout-of-dateand fails to address key issuesof concernwith regard to civil andpolitical rights. Submitted six years behind schedule in June 2015, the report only coversdevelopments from2005 to2008.As a result, the report glaringly omits theoustingof ademocratically-electedgovernmentbyamilitary junta,theNationalCouncil forPeaceandOrder(NCPO),inacoupd’étaton22May2014andthenegativeimpactthiscrucialeventhashadonthecivilandpoliticalrightssituationinThailand.While theThaigovernment’s reply totheHumanRightsCommittee (CCPR)’sListof Issues(LoI) providesmore up-to-date information and refers to a number of importantmattersraised by the CCPR, it fails to show how the severe restrictions imposed by the NCPOsubsequenttothecoupd’étatareconsistentwiththeprovisionsoftheICCPR.This jointFIDH/UCL/iLawshadowreportdetailsthethreeorganizations’concernsoverthesignificanterosionofcivilandpolitical rightsguaranteedbyArticle2 (right toaneffectiveremedy),Article4(derogationduringaStateofEmergency),Article9(libertyandsecurityofperson), Article 10 (humane treatment of persons deprived of their liberty), Article 12(freedomofmovement),Article14(righttoequalitybeforecourtsandtribunalsandrighttofairtrial),Article19(righttofreedomofopinionanexpression),Article21(righttofreedom

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ofpeacefulassembly),andArticle25(participationinpublicaffairsandtherighttovote)oftheICCPRasadirectresultoftheNCPO’sactions.Article2(Implementationofthecovenantatthenationallevel)Interimconstitutioninstitutionalizesimpunity,grantsimmunitytothejuntaArticles44,47,and48ofThailand’sinterimconstitution,promulgatedon22July2014,areinconsistent with the country’s obligations under Article 2(3)(a) of the InternationalCovenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to an effectiveremedytoanypersonwhoserightsareviolated.Article 44 gives the head of the rulingmilitary junta, theNational Council for Peace andOrder (NCPO), General Prayuth Chan-ocha, absolute power to issue any orders andannouncementsdeemednecessaryfor“thebenefitofreforminanyfieldandtostrengthenpublicunityandharmony,orfortheprevention,disruptionorsuppressionofanyactwhichunderminespublicpeaceandorderornationalsecurity,themonarchy,nationaleconomicsor administration of state affairs.” Between 25 December 2014 and 17 January 2017,General Prayuth invokedArticle44124 times to issueorders related toabroad rangeofmatters.Article265ofthenewconstitution,adoptedinthe7August2016referendum[Seebelow,Article25],authorizesGeneralPrayuthtocontinuetouseArticle44ofthe interimconstitutionuntilanewgovernmentisappointedafterthenextgeneralelection.Article 47 declares that all orders and announcements issued by the NCPO and its headsince22May2014areconsidered“lawful,constitutional,andfinal.”Article 48 grants immunity from prosecution to NCPOmembers and all other individualsactingunderordersof theNCPOhead foractscommitted in relationto the22May2014military coup.Article48 states that “if thoseacts constituteoffensesunder the laws, thepersons who commit those acts shall be entirely discharged from such offenses andliabilities.”Onseveraloccasions,ThaicourtsrejectedlegalchallengeslodgedagainstNCPOacts,orders,andannouncementsbyinvokingtheabove-mentionedarticlesoftheinterimconstitution.On29May2015,theCriminalCourtinBangkokdismissedalawsuitfiledaweekearlierbyfouranti-juntaactivistsagainstNCPOheadGeneralPrayuthChan-ochaandfourotherNCPOmembersunderArticle113theCriminalCodeforstagingthe22May2014militarycoup.1Article 113 punishes with life in prison or death whoever commits an act of violence orthreatens todo so inorder tooverthrow the constitutionor the legislative, executive,orjudicial powers. While the court recognized that the NCPO’s actions were “not inaccordance with the principles of a democratic regime,” it nonetheless invoked theimmunity clause contained in Article 48 of the interim constitution and dismissed the

1Prachatai,CriminalCourtdismissesrebellionchargesagainstThaicoup-makers,29May2015

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lawsuit.2On19February2016,theCourtofAppealsusedthesamereasoningtoupholdtheCriminalCourt’sdecision,followinganappealfiledbytheanti-juntaactivists.3On3August2015,theCentralAdministrativeCourtrejectedapetitionfiledbyformerPheuThai Party Member of Parliament (MP) Watana Muangsook that sought to annul theprohibition against him and 154 other individuals that banned them from leaving thecountry without obtaining prior permission from the NCPO head.4 The travel ban iscontained inNCPOAnnouncement21/2014 [Seebelow,Article12]. Thecourt justified itsdecisionunderArticle47oftheinterimconstitution.5On4November2016,theAdministrativeCourtrejectedapetitionfiledbyeightcommunitygroupsandtheThaiNGOEnLawThaiFoundation(EnLaw)thatsoughttonullifyNCPOOrder4/2016 that eased environmental rules and regulations on the construction of powerplants.6ThecourtbaseditsdecisiononthefactthatOrder4/2016hadbeenissuedpursuanttoArticle44oftheinterimconstitution.7ThailandhasalsofailedtocomplywithitsobligationunderArticle2oftheICCPR“torespectandtoensuretoallindividualswithinitsterritoryandsubjecttoitsjurisdiction”therightsrecognizedinthecovenant.TheNCPOhastakennumerousmeasuresthathaveresultedinviolationsofthisrightguaranteedbytheICCPR.This is illustratedbythemanyordersandannouncementsissuedbytheNCPO,whichhaveimposedseriousrestrictionsontherighttoliberty,therighttoafairtrial,therighttofreedomofopinionandexpression,andtherighttofreedomofpeacefulassembly[Seebelow,Articles9,14,19,and21].AccordingtoArticle279ofthenewconstitution,allannouncements,orders,andactsoftheNCPOandtheheadoftheNCPOalreadyinforceareconsideredconstitutionalandlawful.As a result, NCPOdecrees can only be repealed or replaced by the newParliament. Thisallows the continuation of NCPO orders and announcements that are inconsistent withThailand’sobligationsundertheICCPR.Recommendations:- UrgetheNCPOtoimmediatelyrepealArticles44,47,and48oftheinterimconstitution.- UrgetheThaigovernmenttosignandratifytheOptionalProtocoltotheICCPR.

Article4(DerogationduringaStateofEmergency)DeclarationofMartialLaw,derogationnotincompliancewiththeICCPRTheThaiArmy’sdeclarationofMartialLawon20May2014–twodaysbeforethemilitaryoverthrowofademocraticallyelectedgovernment inacoupd’état–andthesubsequent2KhaosodEnglish,ThaiCourtDismissesTreasonChargeAgainstJuntaLeader,29May20153BangkokPost,AppealscourtrulesforPrayut,19February20164Prachatai,AdministrativeCourtdismisseschargeagainstjuntaovertravelban,3August20155Nation,CourtrejectsWattana'spetitionovertravelbans,4August20156 Prachatai, Environmental groups file petition against junta order, 18 April 2016;http://enlawfoundation.org/newweb/?p=3027[inThai]7http://enlawfoundation.org/newweb/?p=3027[inThai]

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derogationfromanumberofprovisionsoftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR)underArticle4ofthecovenant,failedtocomplywithArticle4itself.8Under Article 4 of the ICCPR, a state party may take measures that derogate from theprovisionsofthecovenantonlywhenthesituationamountstoa“timeofpublicemergencywhichthreatensthelifeofthenation.”Thailand’ssituationatthetimeofthedeclarationofMartialLawfailedtomeetthiskeyrequirement.ThedeclarationofMartialLawoccurredafternearlysixmonthsofcontinuousand,insomecases, violent anti-government street protests that were largely confined to the centralareasofThailand’scapital,Bangkok.As the Human Rights Committee (CCPR)’s General Comment No. 29 notes, not everydisturbance qualifies as a public emergency that threatens the life of the nation.9 TheGeneralCommentunderscoresthat ifastatepartymovesto invoketherighttoderogatefromthecovenantduringamassdemonstrationthatincludesinstancesofviolence,itmustbe able to justify the actions on two fronts. First, that state party must show that thesituation constitutes a threat to the life of the nation. Second, the state party mustdemonstratethatthatallthemeasuresderogatingfromthecovenantarestrictlyrequiredby the exigencies of the situation.10 To the contrary, statementsmade by the Thai ArmyCommander-in-ChiefGeneralPrayuthChan-ochaandtheThaigovernmentshowedthatthedeclarationofMartialLawwasmade“torestore lawandorder”andnot inresponsetoatimeofpublicemergencythatthreatenedthelifeofthenation.Inatelevisedannouncementon20May2014,GeneralPrayuthdefendedthedeclarationofMartial Law as necessary to resolve the country’s political crisis.11 Prayuth said theArmyacted over concerns that the security situation was deteriorating and to prevent furtherviolence between pro- and anti-government supporters.12 Prayuth stated, “We areconcerned this violence could harm the country’s security in general. Then, in order torestorelawandordertothecountry,wehavedeclaredmartiallaw.”13AccordingtoabriefingbytheThaiForeignMinistrytoforeigndiplomatson20May2014inBangkok, General Prayuth cited three main reasons for invoking Martial Law. First, toprevent further violence. Second, to maintain peace and order so that all governmentagencies and the general public could resume their normal activities. Third, to safeguardlivesandproperties.14

8TheThaigovernmentderogationconcernsthefollowingArticlesofthe ICCPR:Article12(1),bytheannouncementofacurfewwhichwasliftedon13June2014;Article14(5),bytransferringtrialsofciviliansaccusedofcertainoffensestothejurisdictionofmilitarycourts;Article19,bytheprohibitionofbroadcastingorpublishingofcertaincontent;andArticle21,bytheprohibitionofpoliticalgatherings.9 Human Rights Committee, 72nd session, CCPR General Comment No. 29: Article 4: Derogations during a State ofEmergency,31August2001,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11,Para.310 Human Rights Committee, 72nd session, CCPR General Comment No. 29: Article 4: Derogations during a State ofEmergency,31August2001,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11,Para.511VoiceofAmerica,ThaiMilitaryDeclaresMartialLaw,Seeks‘PeaceandOrder’,20May201412VoiceofAmerica,ThaiMilitaryDeclaresMartialLaw,Seeks‘PeaceandOrder’,20May201413Reuters,Thailand’sarmydeclaresmartiallaw,saysnotacoup,20May201414MinistryofForeignAffairsoftheKingdomofThailand,BriefingtothediplomaticcorpsonthedeclarationofMartialLawinThailandon20May2014,NaradhipAuditorium,MinistryofForeignAffairs,20May2014

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The government’s reply to the CCPR’s List of Issues (LoI), which describes Thailand’ssituationmerely as a “transitional period,” fails to justify the reasonswhy themeasuresderogating from the ICCPR are strictly required. The document simply states that thederogationunderArticle4oftheICCPRremainsnecessarytoensure“publicorderaswellastopreventanyactionsthatmightcreatemoresocialdivisivenessandpolarization.”15The CCPR’s General Comment No. 29 also stresses that states parties may in nocircumstances invoke Article 4 of the ICCPR as justification for acting in violation ofperemptory normsof international law, such as fundamental principles of fair trial.16 TheNCPOblatantlyviolatedArticle4oftheICCPRwhenitactedtotransferthetrialsofciviliansaccused of committing offenses under Articles 107-112 of the Criminal Code to thejurisdictionofmilitarycourtsasaresulttothedeclarationofMartialLaw[Seebelow,Article14].17Finally, it must be noted that under Article 4(3) of the ICCPR, Thailand should have“immediately” informed the other state parties to the covenant, of the provisions fromwhichithadderogated.However,theThaigovernmentonlynotifiedtheotherstatepartiestotheICCPR79dayslater,on8July2014.18Recommendation:- Urge theThai government to immediately revoke thederogation from its obligations

underArticles14,19,and21oftheICCPR.Article9(Libertyandsecurityofperson)ArbitraryarrestsrampantunderNCPOSince the22May2014coup,authoritieshavearbitrarilydetainedhundredsof individualsfortheircriticismofthecoupandthejunta’spoliciesandactions.Manyofthosedetainedwereheldforseveraldayswithoutbeingchargedwithanyallegedcrimes.Detaineeshaveoften been held at undisclosed places of detention – includingmilitary bases – and havebeendenied the rightofaccess toa lawyerandnotallowed to communicatewith familymembers. These circumstances amount to a blatant violation of Article 9 of theInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),whichstatesthat“nooneshallbe subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention” and that “anyonewho is arrested shall beinformed,atthetimeofarrest,ofthereasonsforhisarrestandshallbepromptlyinformedofanychargesagainsthim.”1915 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.4416 Human Rights Committee, 72nd session, CCPR General Comment No. 29: Article 4: Derogations during a State ofEmergency,31August2001,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11,Para.1117 Human Rights Committee, 72nd session, CCPR General Comment No. 29: Article 4: Derogations during a State ofEmergency,31August2001,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11,Para.1118 United Nations Secretary-General, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - Thailand: Notification underArticle4(3)oftheICCPR,17July201419Article9(2)oftheICCPRstates:“Anyonewhoisarrestedshallbeinformed,atthetimeofarrest,ofthereasonsforhisarrestandshallbepromptly informedofanychargesagainsthim.”Article9(3)of the ICCPRstates:“Anyonearrestedor

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Mostofthosedetainedwerehumanrightsdefenders;studentactivists;academics;writers;journalists; advocates for the reform of lèse-majesté (Article 112 of the Criminal Code);formerMembersofParliament (MPs); formerministersof thegovernmentoustedby themilitaryjunta,theNationalCouncilforPeaceandOrder(NCPO);andleadersandsupportersoftheanti-establishmentmovement,theUnitedFrontforDemocracyAgainstDictatorship(UDD).TheNCPOhaseuphemisticallydubbedthesystematicpracticeofarbitrarilydetainingcriticsas ‘attitude adjustments.’ On 29 March 2016, NCPO head General Prayuth Chan-ochaannounced that individualswhocontinued to criticize the junta, includingmediapersons,afterhavingundergoneprevious‘attitudeadjustment’detentionwouldbeheldatmilitarycampsfromthreeto30daysfor‘re-educationcourses.’20On 31May 2016,NCPOdeputy spokesperson Colonel SirichanNgathong announced thattheauthoritieswoulduseothergovernmentbuildings(suchaspolicestationsandprovincialcourthouses) instead of military facilities as venues used for ‘attitude adjustment’sessions.21 The first victimof the junta’snewpolicywas social andenvironmental activistSrisuwanJanya,whowassummonedfor‘attitudeadjustment’attheLaksiDistrictOffice,innorthernBangkokon1June2016.22The NCPO has imposed harsh conditions on those released from ‘attitude adjustment’detention. NCPO Announcements 39/2014 and 40/2014 prescribe a punishment of twoyears’ imprisonment and/or a 40,000 baht (about US$1,140) fine if those freed failed tomeettheconditionsoftheirrelease.Accordingtotheconditions,thosefreedmustnot:1)leave the country without obtaining the NCPO’s prior authorization; and 2) refrain fromcarryingoutanypoliticalactivities.TheseconditionsareinclearviolationofArticle12oftheICCPR[Seebelow,Article12],whichguaranteestherightto leaveone’sowncountry,andArticle19ofthecovenant[Seebelow,Article19],whichguaranteestherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression.Finally, since the22May2014coupd’état,authoritieshavearbitrarilydetainedscoresofindividualsforthemereexerciseoftherightsguaranteedbytheICCPR,suchastherighttofreedomofopinionofexpressionandtherighttofreedomofpeacefulassembly[Seebelow,Article19,Article21,andArticle25].ThearbitrarynatureofsuchdeprivationoflibertyhasbeenrecognizedbytheUnitedNationsWorkingGrouponArbitraryDetention(UNWGAD)ina number of cases brought to its attention. For example, theUNWGADhas declared thedeprivationof libertyof four individuals convictedunderArticle112of theCriminalCode(lèse-majesté)arbitrary[Seebelow,Article19].

detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercisejudicialpowerandshallbeentitledtotrialwithinareasonabletimeortorelease.”20BangkokPost,Govtcritics risk1month ‘re-education’Armyboss says recentdetentionsa ‘warmup’,30March2016;Nation,Prayutplanstodesignhisowncourseforpoliticians,30March2016;BangkokPost,Prawitfavours‘re-education’for‘unruly’politicians,28March201621Prachatai,Junta’scoercivepoliticallecturestobeheldoutsidemilitarybarracks:Deputyjuntahead,31May201622BangkokPost,Social activist Srisuwan called in for ‘attitudeadjustment’, 1 June2016;Prachatai,Attitudeadjustmentsessionheldoutsidemilitarybarracksforfirsttime,1June2016

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In this regard, the Thai courts’ continuous and systematic denial of bail to individualsaccused of lèse-majesté [See below, Article 19] represents a blatant violation of theirfundamental right to liberty, in contraventionwith Thailand’s legal obligations under theICCPR.Article9(3)of the ICCPRprescribes thatpre-trialdetentionshouldbeanexceptionandshouldbeasshortaspossible.Inits2011annualreport,theUNWGADestablishedthatpretrialdetentionshouldbeanexceptionalmeasure.23Recommendations:- Urge the NCPO to repeal Announcements 39/2014 and 40/2014 and end ‘attitude

adjustment’sessionsandallothertypesofarbitrarydetention.- Call on the authorities to ensure that all forms of deprivation of liberty are in

conformitywithThailand’sobligationsundertheICCPR.Article10(Humanetreatmentofpersonsdeprivedoftheirliberty)Thailand’s prisons remain heavily overcrowded and conditions fail to meet internationalstandards,basedoninformationcollectedbyFIDHandUCL.ThisisinconsistentwithArticle10(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which stipulatesthat“allpersonsdeprivedoftheir libertyshallbetreatedwithhumanityandwithrespectfortheinherentdignityofthehumanperson.”According to government figures, Thailand’s prison population has continued to increasesince 2011, with its total population numbering 289,675 people, as of January 2017.24DuringThailand’ssecondUniversalPeriodicReview(UPR)on11May2016,thegovernmentclaimedithadconsideredseveralalternativestoimprisonmenttoaddresstheovercrowdingin detention centers.25 However, aside from the granting of royal amnesties, no otherremedyintroducedbythegovernmenthasbeenabletosignificantlyreducethepopulation.Asaresult,thepenitentiarysystem’soccupancylevelstoodat133%ofplannedcapacity,asofJanuary2017.26The vastmajority of prisoners are incarcerated for crimes involving drugs. As of January2017,176,212men(70%of thetotalmaleprisonpopulation)and32,179women(82%ofthetotalfemaleprisonpopulation)werebehindbarsfordrug-relatedoffenses.PriortotheDecember2016royalamnesty,whichsawthedeathsentencesofallprisonerscommutedtoprisonterms,therewere369menand67womenondeathrow;159ofthemen(43%)and55ofthewomen(82%)ondeathrowhadbeenfoundguiltyofdrug-relatedoffenses.27

23HumanRightsCouncil,11thsession,ReportoftheWorkingGrouponArbitraryDetention,26December2011,UNDoc.A/HRC/19/57Paras.48-5824 Department of Corrections, Statistics of incarcerated persons nationwide, 1 January 2017, 1 January 2017,http://www.correct.go.th/stat102/display/result.php?date=2017-01-01&Submit=%B5%A1%C5%A725HumanRightsCommittee,33rdsession,ReportoftheWorkingGroupontheUniversalPeriodicReview-Thailand,15July2016,UNDoc.A/HRC/33/16,Para.6726Basedonanofficialcapacityof217,000people.Theoccupancylevel istheofficial(un-crowded)capacityoftheprisonsystemagainsttheprisonpopulationtotalasapercentageofthecapacityfigure.Thepercentageistheoccupancylevel,whichdemonstrateswhetheraprisonsystemholdsmoreprisonersthanitisintendedtohold,andbyhowmuch.27 Department of Corrections, Statistics of prisoners under death sentence, December 2016, 4 January 2017,http://www.correct.go.th/stathomepage/ประหารชีวิตธค.59.pdf; Gazette, Royal pardon on the first occasion since his

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InitsreplytotheHumanRightsCommittee(CCPR)’sListofIssues(LoI),theThaigovernmentasserted that Thailand respected prisoners’ rights and dignity and that prison conditionsmetinternationalstandards.28However,testimoniesgatheredbyFIDHandUCLfromformerprisonersattwoprisonsinBangkok–theBangkokRemandPrisonandtheCentralWomen’sCorrectional Institution–contradict thegovernment’sstatements.Research indicatesthatpoorlivingconditions,includinginadequateaccesstomedicaltreatment,foodandpotablewater, andpoor sanitation facilities continue toplague these twoprisons. It is likely thatsimilarconditionsexistinotherprisonsacrossThailand.Formerprisonersfromthetwoaforementionedprisonsreportedthattheyonlyhadaspaceofabout0.45m(inwidth)tosleep–farlessthanthe1.2m2specifiedbythegovernmentinitsreplytotheLoI,andwereforcedtosleepontheirsidesinordertoavoidconflictswithotherinmates.Intermsoffood,formerprisonersdescribedthemealsinsidetheprisonsasso“terrible”thatthosewhohadmoneypreferredtobuytheirownmealsfromtheprisonshopororderfoodfromoutsidetheprison.Accesstodrinkingwaterwasdifficultforsomeinmates,whoresortedtodrinkingunfilteredwaterthatsmelledand/ortastedbad.Medicalcareserviceswereverydifficulttoaccessinsidetheprisons.Aprisonofficerwouldpre-screenaprisonerbeforeallowingtheprisonertovisitthemedicalcenter.Whileatleastonenursewouldbeondutyatthemedicalcenter,doctorscametothemedicalcenteronlytwotothreetimesaweek.Bothdoctorsandnurseswouldgenerallyprescribeparacetamoltotheprisonerstotreatmostailments.Whiletheprisonshaveseparatebuildingsfordifferentcategoriesofprisoners, inpractice,differentcategoriesofprisonersareconfinedinthesamedormitoriesduetoovercrowding.Former inmates reported thatmostprisonersareafraid tomakecomplaintsaboutprisonconditionsforfearofretributionagainstthemfromguardsorfromotherprisoners.Prisoners’ statements indicate that restraining devices, such as shackles, have beenexcessively used on prisoners. One former prisoner reported an instance of a femaleprisoner having her feet shackled while she was made to sit with a prison officer aspunishment for fightingwithanotherprisoner. Inaddition,maleprisoners,even thoseontrial for non-serious offenses, continue to be shackled when they are transported fromprisontocourthearings.TheNationalHumanRightsCommissionofThailand(NHRCT)hasdenouncedthisasaviolationofanindividual’srightsandliberties.29Inaddition,FIDHandUCL’sresearchshowsatrendofincreasedrestrictionsinprisonssincethe May 2014 coup. According to former inmates, prison officials had confiscated theirmattresses,pillows,andblankets,andreplacedtheseitemswiththreethinsackcloth/burlapblankets. Most inmates would lay one of the blankets down on the floor in place of amattress.Formerprisonersalso reported that theDepartmentofCorrectionshadbannedmajesty’s ascension to the throne to show his mercy, B.E. 2559, 11 December 2016,http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/104/33.PDF28 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.8829National HumanRights Commission of Thailand,News Release on the use of restraints to the 7 students of theNewDemocracyMovement(NDM)groupon5July2016,9August2016

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newspapers and watching the news on TV. The Department of Corrections also beganstrictlyenforcinga2012regulation,whichstipulatedthatprisonerswererequiredto listamaximum of 10 people, from whom they could receive visits and have correspondencewith.The establishment of the Nakhon Chaisri temporary detention facility inside the 11thMilitaryCirclebaseinBangkoklackscertainguaranteesthatmustbeaffordedtodetainees.Withinmonths of its establishment in September 2015, twoprisoners chargedwith lèse-majestédiedatthefacility.AuthoritiesconcludedthatPoliceMajorPrakromWarunpraphahadcommittedsuicideandclaimedthatSuriyanSucharitpolwong(aka‘MorYong’)haddiedof septicemia.30 In both cases, JusticeMinister Paiboon Koomchaya announced just daysafter their deaths, that the autopsies had already been carried out.31 The bodies of bothmenwerequicklyreturnedtotheirfamiliesandtheirremainswerecrematedwithindaysoftheirdeaths.32Inaddition,thelawyerofAdemKaradag(akaBilalMohammed),oneoftheallegedbombersofBangkok’sErawanShrineinAugust2015,claimedthatAdemhadbeentorturedintomakingaconfessionattheNakhonChaisritemporarydetentionfacility.33TheThaiauthoritieshavefailedtoconductthorough,impartial,andcredibleinvestigationsintoclaimsoftortureandotherabusesinthemilitarydetentionfacility.Recommendations:- Urge theThai government toaddress the issueofovercrowding inprisonsby finding

sustainable measures to reduce the number of prisoners within the penitentiarysystem.Suchmeasurescouldinclude:rehabilitationfordrug-relatedoffenses;finesorcommunityserviceforminoroffenses;thegrantingofbailforpeopleawaitingtrialforcertain categories of crimes, including lèse-majesté; and repatriation for foreignprisoners.

- UrgetheThaigovernmenttoimprovelivingconditionsinprisonstobeinlinewiththeUnitedNations (UN)StandardMinimumRules for theTreatmentofPrisoners (NelsonMandelaRules).

- Urge the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to end the use of the 11thMilitaryCircleNakhonChaisri temporarydetention facilityasaplaceofdetention forciviliansandtransferallcivilianscurrentlydetainedtheretoanotherprison.

Article12(Freedomofmovement)JuntatargetsbarredfromtravellingabroadSincetakingpoweron22May2014,theNationalCouncilforPeaceandOrder(NCPO)hasbanned numerous Thai citizens from leaving their country. This contravenes Thailand’sobligation under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights30Nation,Lesemajestesuspectdiesafterhanginghimselfindetentioncell,24October2015;AFP,Thaifortunetellerheldunderroyaldefamationlawfounddead,9November201531KhaosodEnglish,Furtherautopsyoflesemajesteinmateunnecessary,Ministersays,26October2015;KhaosodEnglish,Famousastrologer‘MorYong’diesincustody,9November201532BangkokPost,Copstracelese-majestesuspectstograftnetwork,27October2015;BangkokPost,Lesemajestesuspect‘MorYong’diesinarmycustody,10November201533Reuters,ChineseUighurwastorturedintoconfessingroleinBangkokbomb:lawyer,15February2016

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(ICCPR),whichguaranteestherightforeveryonetoleaveanycountry,includinghisorherown.On23May2014, theNCPO issuedAnnouncement21/2014,whichbarred155 individualsfrom travelling abroad without the prior approval of NCPO head General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The announcement justified the measure based on the need “to ensure that themaintaining of peace and resolving the political conflict can be carried out in an orderlymanner.” On 31 May 2016, citing the need to promote reconciliation and unity amongThais, the NCPO issued Order 25/2016, which repealed Announcement 21/2014 andeffectivelyliftedthetravelbanonthe155individuals.34However, the NCPO continues to enforce a travel ban against individuals released from‘attitude adjustment’ detention [See above, Article 9] “in order to ensure peaceful andeffectivemaintenance of peace and order.”NCPOAnnouncements 39/2014 and 40/2014prescribe that individualswhowere summoned to report to theNCPO and subsequentlyreleasedmustnotleaveThailandwithoutobtainingpriorauthorizationfromtheheadoftheNCPO. Failure to adhere to this condition is punishable with two years’ imprisonmentand/ora40,000baht(aboutUS$1,140)fine.Anongoing travelbanalso remains inplace for individualswhohavebeen released fromdetention for certain offenses under NCPO Order 3/2015, issued on 1 April 2015. Theseoffenses include:1)violationofNCPOordersandannouncements;2) lèse-majesté(Article112oftheCriminalCode);and3)sedition(Article116oftheCriminalCode).Article11ofOrder 3/2015 prohibits such individuals from travelling abroad without obtaining priorpermissionfromGeneralPrayuth.On 30March 2016, the NCPO barred Khaosod English reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk fromtravelling to Finland to attend a conference on World Press Freedom Day (3 May).35Authoritiesprovidednoreasonfortherestriction.36Pravithadbeenarbitrarilydetainedfor‘attitudeadjustment’twice,from25to31May2014andfrom13to15September2015,forhiscriticismofthemilitaryjunta.Article 12(3) of the ICCPR allows the right to leave one’s own country to be restricted inexceptional circumstances (protection of national security, public order, public health ormorals,andtherightsandfreedomofothers).However,theNCPOhasfailedtoexplainhowitstravelbansmeetthetestofnecessityandtherequirementofproportionality–twostrictconditions that must be fulfilled in order for the restrictions under Article 12(3) to bepermissible.37Inaddition,theHumanRightsCommittee(CCPR)’sGeneralCommentNo.27statesthatlawsauthorizingtheapplicationofrestrictionsunderArticle12(3)mustbebasedon “clear legal grounds,” “precise criteria,” and “maynot conferunfettereddiscretionon

34 Nation,NCPO’s order lifting travel ban published in Royal Gazette, 1 June 2016; Prachatai, Junta’s coercive politicallecturestobeheldoutsidemilitarybarracks:Deputyjuntahead,1June201635Prachatai,Juntabansjournalistfromattendingpressfreedomdayoverseas,30March201636PravitRojanaphruk(@PravitR)tweet,BBCThainewsasked juntayforbidmefromtraveling2#Finland2attendWorldPressFreedomevent.Juntarepsayscan’tgiveinfo#Thailand,30March201637HumanRightsCommittee,67thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.27:Article12(Freedomofmovement),2November1999,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.9,Para.11

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thosechargedwiththeirexecution.”38Theserequirementsclearlyprecludeanyjustificationfor theNCPO’s travelbans,whoseenforcement rests solelywithGeneralPrayuth.Finally,therestrictionsviolatethefundamentalprincipleofequalityandnon-discriminationastheyareimposedbasedonpoliticalorotheropinion,suchascriticismoftheNCPO.39Recommendation:- UrgetheThaigovernmenttorepealNCPOAnnouncements39/2014and40/2014and

Article11ofNCPOOrder3/2015.Article14(Righttoequalitybeforecourtsandtribunalsandrighttofairtrial)CivilianstriedinmilitarycourtsAs a result of the Thai Army’s declaration of Martial Law on 20 May 2014 and NCPOAnnouncement37/2014,issuedon25May2014,militarycourtsassumedjurisdictionoverseveralcategoriesofoffenses,includinglèse-majesté(Article112oftheCriminalCode)andsedition (Article 116 of the Criminal Code), committed from 25 May 2014. Despite therevocationofMartialLawon1April2015,theNCPOcontinuedtheuseofmilitarycourtsforthesamecategoriesofoffensesthroughtheissuanceofanewdecree,NCPOOrder3/2015.From 25 May 2014 to 30 November 2016, military courts across Thailand tried 2,177civiliansin1,716cases.40The NCPO’s decision to subject civilians to the jurisdiction of military courts is a seriousbreachof internationalhumanrightsstandardsandofThailand’sobligationsunderArticle14(1)of the InternationalCovenantonCivil andPoliticalRights (ICCPR),which states thateveryone has the right to a “fair and public hearing by a competent, independent andimpartialtribunal.”Withregardtotheissueofindependence,Thaimilitarycourtsarenotindependentfromtheexecutivebranch.MilitarycourtsareunitsundertheorganizationalstructureoftheMinistryof Defense andmilitary judges are appointed by the Army Commander-in-Chief and theDefenseMinister.41Manymilitaryjudgesalsolackadequatelegaltraining.ThelowerlevelsofThaimilitarycourtsarestaffedwithpanelsofthreejudges–onemilitaryjudgeadvocatewithlegaltrainingandtwoothercommissionedmilitaryofficers,withnolegaltraining,whositonthepanelsasrepresentativesoftheircommanders.42Withregardtotherighttoa“publichearing,”trialsofciviliansinmilitarycourtshavebeencharacterizedbyalackoftransparency.Militarycourtshaveheldmanytrialsbehindclosed

38HumanRightsCommittee,67thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.27:Article12(Freedomofmovement),2November1999,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.9,Paras.13and1639HumanRightsCommittee,67thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.27:Article12(Freedomofmovement),2November1999,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.9,Para.1840JudgeAdvocateGeneralDepartment,StatisticsofCiviliansBeingTriedinMilitaryCourts,13January2017[inThai]41ThaiLawyersforHumanRights,MartialLawandtheMilitaryCourt:CivilandPoliticalRightsinThailand(22May2014-15January2015),2February201542ThaiLawyersforHumanRights,MartialLawandtheMilitaryCourt:CivilandPoliticalRightsinThailand(22May2014-15January2015),2February2015

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doors. Military judges routinely barred members of the public, including observers frominternational human rights organizations and foreign diplomatic missions, from enteringcourtrooms.43Onnumerousoccasions,militarycourtsclaimedthatclosed-doorproceedingswerenecessarybecausetrialswereamatterof“nationalsecurity”andcould“affectpublicmorale.”44Inaddition,Article14(5)oftheICCPRprescribesthateveryoneconvictedofacrimehastheright “to his conviction and sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal.” However,individualswhoallegedlycommittedcertainoffensesbetween25May2014and31March2015hadnorighttoappealadecisionmadebyamilitarycourtasaresultofthedeclarationof Martial Law and in accordance with Article 61 of the 1955 Military Court Act. Therevocation ofMartial Law on 1 April 2015 reinstated the right to appeal a conviction tohighermilitarycourtsforoffensescommittedafterthatdate.For these reasons, the Thai government’s repeated claim that defendants beforemilitarycourtsaresubjecttothesamesetofrightsasthosewhoappearbeforeciviliancourtsmustberejected.45On12September2016,theNCPOissuedOrder55/2016,whichendedthepracticeoftryingcivilians inmilitarycourts.However, theorderappliesonly toallegedoffensescommittedfrom 12 September 2016, and excludes past cases or trials already underway inmilitarycourts. As of 30 November 2016, 416 cases involving civilians remained under thejurisdictionofmilitarytribunals.46TheHumanRightsCommittee(CCPR)declaredthat“thejurisdictionofmilitarytribunals isrestricted to offences of a strictly military nature committed bymilitary personnel.”47 Inaddition,initsGeneralCommentNo.13,theCCPRstatedthattheuseofmilitarycourtstotryciviliansshouldbe“veryexceptional”andtakeplaceunderconditionswhich“genuinelyaffordthefullguaranteesstipulatedinArticle14”oftheICCPR.48Inanopinionissuedon21November 2016 concerning a lèse-majesté detainee in Thailand, the United NationsWorkingGroup on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) reiterated that the trial of civilians by

43 Nation, Concerns over trying civilians in military court, 30 October 2014; Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, “Opas”sentenced to3years for lèse-majesté scribbleonawall,16October2015;BangkokPost,Militarycourt jailsman for25yearsoverlesemajesté,1April201544 Prachatai,MilitaryCourt secretly tries lesemajeste cases, 21October 2014; Prachatai,Court rules to try another lèsemajestécaseinsecret,1December2014;Prachatai,Militarycourtgivesredshirt25yearsinjailforpostinglesemajesteonFB,30March2015;Prachatai,Militarycourtsetsnewrecordonlesemajestesentence;mangets30yearsbehindbars,7August2015;Prachatai,Elderlymangetsadditional18monthsfor lèsemajestémessages inrestroom,16October2015;Prachatai,Militarycourtsendselderlymanto4yearsinjailoverlèsemajestéaudioclips,29December201545 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.80;UniversalPeriodicReview,25thsession,Thailand:StatementonMilitaryCourt,11May201546JudgeAdvocateGeneralDepartment,StatisticsofCiviliansBeingTriedinMilitaryCourts,13January2017[inThai]47 Commission on Human Rights, 62nd session, Principles Governing the Administration of Justice Through MilitaryTribunals-PrincipleNo.5:Jurisdictionofmilitarycourtstotrycivilians,13January2006,UNDoc.E/CN.4/2006/5848HumanRightsCommittee,21stsession, ICCPRGeneralCommentNo.13:Article14(AdministrationofJustice),13April1984,UNDoc.HRI/GEN/1/Rev.1Para.4

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militarycourtsviolatestheICCPRandcustomaryinternationallaw,andthatmilitarycourtscanonlybecompetenttotrymilitarypersonnelformilitaryoffenses.49Recommendation:- Urge the Thai government to end military trials of civilians and transfer all ongoing

casestothejurisdictionofciviliancourts.Article19(Righttofreedomofopinionandexpression)Thailawcontainsnumerousprovisionsthatgreatlylimittherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression. Legislation that is inconsistentwith international human rights standards andbreaches Thailand’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights (ICCPR) include: Articles 112 (lèse-majesté), 116 (sedition), 326 (defamation), 328(libel) of the Criminal Code; and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act (amended in December2016). In addition, numerous decrees issued by the ruling military junta, the NationalCouncilforPeaceandOrder(NCPO),afteritseizedpowerinacoupd’étaton22May2014,haveimposedadditionalrestrictionsontherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression.Lèse-majestédetentionsandimprisonmentsskyrocketUndertheNCPO,thenumberofindividualsdetainedorimprisonedunderArticle112oftheCriminal Code (lèse-majesté), has increased dramatically.50 Between the 22 May 2014militarycoupand5February2017,atleast90individualswerearrestedunderArticle112.Forty-fourofthemweresentencedtoprisontermsofupto30years.Asof5February2017,at least 59 individuals are either imprisoned or detained awaiting trial on lèse-majestécharges.At the timeof the22May2014 coup, therewere six individualsbehindbarsonlèse-majestécharges.In its reply to theHuman Rights Committee (CCPR)’s List of Issues (LoI), the governmentacknowledgedtheincreaseinprosecutionsunderArticle112oftheCriminalCodesincethe22May 2014military coup and attributed the surge to Thailand’s “political conflict” and“politicalplayers”whoexploitedthemonarchyfortheirownpoliticalgain.51The reality is that themilitary junta’s relentlesspersecutionof allegedviolatorsofArticle112 of the Criminal Code, coupled with the fact that anyone can file a lèse-majestécomplaint, has created an environment in which the Thai authorities have applied theprovisionsofArticle112inaverybroadmannerinordertoinvestigate,prosecute,ordetainlèse-majestécriticsandpoliticalopponents.TwocasesthatexemplifythistrendarethoseofThanakornSiriphaiboonandJatuphatBoonpattaraksa(akaPai).49WorkingGrouponArbitraryDetention,OpinionNo.44/2016concerningPongsakSriboonpeng(Thailand),21November2016,Para.3250Article112ofThailand’sCriminalCodeimposesjailtermsforthosewhodefame,insult,orthreatentheKing,theQueen,theHeirtothethrone,ortheRegent.PersonsfoundguiltyofviolatingArticle112faceprisontermsofthreeto15yearsforeachcount.Anypersoncanfilealèse-majestécomplaintunderArticle112.51 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.119

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Thanakorn,a factoryworkerandmemberofaFacebookgroupalignedwithsupportersofousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, was arrested by army personnel and policeofficerson8December2015inSamutPrakanProvince.52Authoritieschargedhimwithlèse-majesté forpostingaFacebookmessage thatmocked lateKingBhumibolAdulyadej’sdog‘ThongDaeng’andforclicking‘like’onadoctoredimageofKingBhumibolonFacebookandsharing it online.53 Thanakron remained detained until 8March 2016,when the BangkokMilitaryCourtreleasedhimonbail.54Jatuphat, a university student activist who has taken part in various peaceful anti-juntademonstrations, was arrested on 2 December 2016 in Chaiyaphum Province on chargesunderArticle112of theCriminalCodeand theComputerCrimesAct.55Thecharges stemfromaFacebookpostinwhichJatuphatsharedabiographicalprofileofthenewThaiKingMaha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun that was published on the BritishBroadcastingCorporation(BBC)Thai languageservice’swebsiteon2December2016.56Asof 5 February 2017, Jathupat remained detained in Khon Kaen Provincial CorrectionalInstitutionafterbeingdeniedbailsixtimes.57Thegovernmentalso rehashed its staleandoften repeatedargument thatproceedings inlèse-majestécases “areconductedwithcareful considerationand inaccordancewithduelegal process of law.”58 These statements are contradicted by the fact that lèse-majestédefendantshavebeen subjected to longpre-trial detentions and the systematicdenial ofbail.Only15ofthe90 individuals(17%)arrestedforallegedviolationsofArticle112aftertheMay2014coupwerereleasedonbailpendingtrial.Inaddition,thetransferoflèse-majestétrialsfromciviliancourtstomilitarycourtshasledtoa furthererosionof theright toa fair trial for individualsprosecutedunderArticle112[Seeabove,Article14].Sincethe22May2014coupd’état,militarycourtshavesentenced28 lèse-majesté defendants to lengthy prison terms and at least 30 lèse-majesté casesremainunderthejurisdictionofmilitarytribunals.Thedeprivationof libertythatstemsfromlèse-majestéprosecutions isaclearviolationofThailand’s legalobligationswithregardtotherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression,guaranteedbyArticle19of the ICCPR.59UnitedNations (UN) jurisprudencehas invariablyreaffirmed that Article 112 is inconsistentwith Thailand’s obligations under internationallaw.52Prachatai,Activisttakenfromsickbedtofacelèsemajestécharges,14December2015;Prachatai,Update:ManaccusedoflèsemajestéformockingKing’sdog,14December201553Prachatai,Activisttakenfromsickbedtofacelèsemajestécharges,14December2015;Prachatai,Update:ManaccusedoflèsemajestéformockingKing’sdog,14December201554Prachatai,MilitarycourtgrantsbailtomanmockingKing’sdog,8March201655KhaosodEnglish,Activist‘PaiDaoDin’ArrestedForLeseMajeste,3December201656KhaosodEnglish,Activist‘PaiDaoDin’ArrestedForLeseMajeste,3December201657ThaiLawyersforHumanRights,ChronologyofongoinglesemajestecaseofPai‘DaoDin’,2February201758 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1, Para. 120; Universal Periodic Review, 25th session, Thailand: Statement on Civil and PoliticalRights,11May201559Article19oftheICCPRstatesthateveryonehastherighttoholdopinionswithoutinterferenceandtherighttofreedomofexpression.Freedomofexpressionincludesthe“freedomtoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasofallkinds,regardlessoffrontiers,eitherorally,inwritingorinprint,intheformofart,orthroughanyothermediaofhischoice.”

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Article19providesthatrestrictionstothisrightmustconformtothestricttestsofnecessityandproportionality. In itsGeneralCommentNo.34,theCCPRemphasizedthat“themerefactthatformsofexpressionareconsideredtobeinsultingtoapublicfigureisnotsufficientto justify the imposition of penalties.” The CCPR specifically expressed concern regardinglèse-majesté lawsandsaid that stateparties to the ICCPRshouldnotprohibit criticismofinstitutions.60 TheCCPRalsoopined that defamation lawsmust be “craftedwith care” toensure that theydonot stifle freedomof expressionand that imprisonment “is never anappropriatepenalty”fortheviolationoftheselaws.61The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom ofopinion and expression has stressed that laws that criminalize criticism of royalty “aremanifestlyinconsistentwithfreedomofexpression,andunjustifiableunderArticle19(3)”oftheICCPR.62On22June2015,afterareviewofThailand’sreport,theUNCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(UNCESCR)expressedconcernoverthe“adverseeffectoftheexcessiveinterpretation”of lèse-majestéon theenjoymentof the rightofeveryone to takepart incultural life. The committee recommended that Article 112 be amended with a view toensure “clarity andunambiguity regarding the prohibited acts and that any sanctions arestrictlyproportionatetotheharmcaused.”63In four separate cases brought to its attention, the UN Working Group on ArbitraryDetention(UNWGAD)determinedthatthedeprivationoflibertyofformermagazineeditorSomyot Phrueksakasemsuk, student activists Patiwat Saraiyaem (aka Bank), PornthipMunkong (aka Golf), and former tour guide Pongsak Sriboonpeng was arbitrary becausetheyweredetainedsolelyforthepeacefulexerciseoftheirrighttofreedomofopinionandexpression.Equally inconsistent with Thailand’s obligations under Article 19 of the ICCPR are theongoingrestrictionsonthefreeflowofinformationconcerningtheThaimonarchy.TheThaigovernment claimed that the purpose of Article 112 “should not be misinterpreted ascurbingpeople’srightstofreedomofopinionandexpression,northelegitimateexerciseofacademic freedom.”64However, theoverzealousenforcementof lèse-majestéhascreatedan environment characterized by censorship and self-censorship, which has effectivelyeliminatedanyspacefordebateovertheroyalinstitutionandthereformofArticle112.Thailand’s ongoing censorship of material that is deemed insulting to the monarchy hasresulted in thebanof several books andpublications.On12November2014, authoritiesbannedA Kingdom in Crisis, by British journalist AndrewMcGregorMarshall as itmakes60HumanRightsCommittee,102ndsession,GeneralcommentNo.34-Article19:Freedomsofopinionandexpression,12September2011,UNDoc.CCPR/C/GC/34Para.3861HumanRightsCommittee,102ndsession,GeneralcommentNo.34-Article19:Freedomsofopinionandexpression,12September2011,UNDoc.CCPR/C/GC/34Para.4762UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,71stsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteuronthepromotionandprotectionoftherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression,6September2016,UNDoc.A/71/373,Para.5863CommitteeonEconomicSocialandCulturalRights,55thsession,Concludingobservationson thecombined initialandsecondperiodicreportsofThailand,19June2015,UNDoc.E/C.12/THA/CO/1-2,Para.3564 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.120

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references to the Thai royal family and the issue of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’ssuccession in the context of Thailand’s ongoing political crisis. Earlier books that remainbanned includeTheKingNeverSmiles,abiographyofKingBhumibolwrittenbyAmericanjournalist PaulHandley, andTheDevil’s Discus, an investigative book into themysteriouscircumstances surrounding the death of King Ananda Mahidol (King Bhumibol’s elderbrother)inJune1946,writtenbyBritish-SouthAfricanauthorRayneKruger.BetweenSeptemberandDecember2015,thecompanythatprintedtheInternationalNewYork Times in Thailand refused to publish articles related to the Thai monarchy on fouroccasions.65The internationalweeklymagazineEconomist decided not to distribute its print issues inThailandatleastthreetimesbetweenMay2012andJanuary2015becausetheycontainedarticlesaboutmembersoftheThairoyalfamily.66ThepublisherofMatichonWeeklydecidedtohaltdistributionof themagazine’s issue fortheweekof15-21August2014overpossible lèse-majestécontent.67On3June2015,theSame Sky political magazine, known for its criticism of Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws,announcedthat itwouldsuspendpublication indefinitelybecauseof the“climateof fear”createdbytheNCPO’spervasivecontroloverthemedia.68Underthemilitaryjunta,authoritieshavealsosteppedupeffortstocensoronlinecontentthat is considered offensive to the monarchy. On 16 December 2014, Information andCommunicationTechnologyMinisterPornchaiRujiprapasaidthattheMinistryhadblockedabout 1,200websites that allegedly defamed themonarchy since the coup.69 Between 5January and 10 March 2015, the government’s Technology Crime Suppression Division(TCSD)blockedanadditional510URLs(includingpagesfromFacebook,YouTube,blogs,andwebboards)becausetheircontentwasdeemedtoviolateArticle112.70On24April2015,police said theyhad shut down25,069websites that allegedly disseminated lèse-majestécontent.71 In early September 2015, the Army’s Internal Security Operations Command(ISOC) said that authorities had blocked an additional 143 websites (for a total of 3,426pages)thathadbeenfoundtocarrylèse-majestécontent.72

65AFP,NoNYTeditioninThailandafterarticleonking’shealth,22September2015;AFP,BlankspacesreplaceNYTarticleon flagging Thai economy, 1 December 2015; Reuters, The New York Times got censored in Thailand because of thisoccasion,5December2015;Prachatai,AnotherIntlNYTarticleremovedbyThaipublisher,15December201566EconomistdecidednottodistributeitsprintissuesinThailandfortheweeksof12May2012,16November2013,and31January2015.67Prachatai,MatichonWeeklystopsdistributionforfearoflèsemajesté,15August201468Prachatai,SameSkyacademicjournaltemporarilystopspublishingduetofearofjunta,10June201469Prachatai,Thaiauthorityboastsblocking1,200allegedlèsemajestéwebsites,17December201470BangkokPost,Lesemajestefightgoesonline,16March201571Prachatai,Thaipolicesaymorethan200lèsemajestécasesclosedin6months,26April201572BangkokPost,143websiteswithlesemajestecontentblocked,7September2015

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JuntacriticshitbyseditionchargesUnder the NCPO, authorities have increasingly used Article 116 of the Criminal Code(sedition) to target peaceful criticism of the coup and the NCPO’s policies and actions.73From 22May 2014 to 31 January 2017, authorities charged at least 60 individuals underArticle116.74InitsreplytotheHumanRightsCommittee’s(CCPR)’sListofIssues(LoI),thegovernment claimed that Article 116 “does not apply to those who peacefully expresspoliticalopinionswithwell intention,butaimsatpreventingtheexpressionofhatredthatstirsviolenceinthesociety.”75Therealityisthatinmostcases,thechargesstemmedfromanoverzealous,andsometimesinexplicable,applicationofArticle116.Examples includechargesmadeagainst:1)FormerEducationMinisterChaturongChaisengforaspeechattheForeignCorrespondents’ClubofThailand(FCCT)inBangkok,inwhichhecriticizedthe22May2014militarycoup;762)RindaParuechabutr,a45-year-oldwoman,forsharingarumoraboutNCPOheadGeneralPrayuthChan-ochaonsocialmedia;773)TheerawanCharoensuk,a57-year-oldwomanfromChiangMai,forpostingaphotoonFacebookofherholdingaredplasticbowlinscribedwithThaiNewYeargreetingsfromformerPrimeMinistersThaksinandYingluckShinawatra;784)eightpeople in Bangkok and Khon Kaen Province for their involvement in the creation of asatirical Facebook page entitled ‘We Love General Prayuth;’79 and 5) PreechaKaewbanpaew,a77-year-oldman, forgiving flowers toapro-democracyactivistduringapeacefulmarchinBangkok.80Publicdebatestifled,academicfreedomlimitedSince22May2014,theNCPOhasalsoseverelyrestrictedtherighttofreedomofopinionandexpressionbybanningdozensofpaneldiscussionsandpubliceventsrelatedtohumanrights,history,anddemocracy,whichtheauthoritiesclaimedmightaffectnationalsecurity.From22May2014to31January2017,theNCPOsuppressedatleast69suchpublicevents,which included: a film festival; film screenings; academic seminars andpanel discussions;human rights report presentations; commemoration ceremonies; civil society forums onland and environmental issues and democracy; and seminars on the 2016 draftconstitution.81 In some cases, public events were allowed to take place, but authoritiesclosely monitored the proceedings. In addition, in the weeks after the coup, the juntaintimidated numerous academics by summoning and detaining them atmilitary bases inseverallocationsaroundthecountry.73 Article 116 of Thailand’s Criminal Code punishes with prison terms of to up to seven years “whoever makes anappearancetothepublicbywords,writingsoranyothermeans”inorderto“toraiseunrestanddisaffectionamongthepeopleinamannerlikelytocausedisturbanceinthecountry.”74 iLaw,Charges against individuals after 2014 coup, 31 January 2017, https://freedom.ilaw.or.th/politically-charged [inThai]75 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.11276iLaw,Chaturon:DefyingNCPOorder,Section116,CCA;Case#60077iLaw,Rinda:postedarumorthatGen.PrayuthtransferredmoneytoSingapore;Case#68278KhaosodEnglish,Womanchargedwithseditionforposingwithredbucket,29March201579iLaw,April2016:8FacebookpageadministratorschargedunderSection116,“WearingWhiteandjuststanding”activistsarrested,andReferendumActnowineffect,6June201680KhaosodEnglish,Elderlymangetssuspendedsentenceforgivingflowers,23May201681iLaw,Publiceventscanceledorinterferedwithbytheauthoritiessince22May2014,6February2017

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Mediacensored,journaliststargetedThe NCPO issued numerous decrees that restricted the dissemination of news critical oftheiractions.On22May2014,theNCPOissuedAnnouncement14/2014,whichorderedallmedianotto interviewformergovernmentofficials,academics, judges,orothermembersof independent organizations “in away thatmay create conflict or confusion among thepublic.” On the same day, the junta issued Announcement 18/2014, which banned thedistribution of news that “might be threatening to the national security.” Announcement18/2014 also banned criticism of the NCPO and its officials, as well as information that“mightcauseconfusionorprovokefurtherconflictordivisionswithintheKingdom.”NCPOAnnouncement97/2014, issuedon18July2014,replacedAnnouncements14/2014and 18/2014. It imposed an obligation for all news outlets, both public and private, todistribute information issued by the NCPO. In addition, the announcement banned“criticismoftheworkoftheNCPO”andthedisseminationofinformationthatcouldharmnationalsecurity,causeconfusion,orinciteorprovoke“conflictordivisions”inthecountry.Failure to comply with these provisions could result in the immediate shutdown of theoffendingnewsoutlet.Article 5 of NCPOOrder 3/2015, issued on 1 April 2015, authorizes themilitary to issuedecrees that prohibit “the propagation of news or the sale or distribution of any bookpublicationoranyothermediathatcontains[…]informationthatisintentionallydistortedtocausepublicmisunderstandingthataffectsnationalsecurityorpublicorder.”Immediatelyafterseizingpoweron22May2014,theNCPOshutdown14ThaisatelliteTVstationsandabout3,000communityradiostationsandblockedallinternationalsatelliteTVtransmissions.ManyoftheTVandradiostationswereallowedtoreopenbyAugust2014,on condition that they excluded the broadcast of political issues or content that affectsnational security in violationofNCPOAnnouncement97/2014.At least seven satelliteTVstationswererequiredtochangetheirnames,asthechannelswerepreviouslyknownfortheirpoliticalcontent.InApril2015,twotelevisionchannelsregardedasbeingalignedwithsupportersofformerPrimeMinisterThaksinShinawatra–PeaceTVand24News–hadtheirlicensestemporarilysuspended and were taken off the air for seven days for violating NCPO Announcement97/2014.On21July2016,theNationalBroadcastingandTelecommunicationsCommission(NBTC)suspendedPeaceTV’sbroadcastinglicensefor30days.82Theorderstemmedfromthree programs broadcast in March 2016, which the NBTC claimed violated NCPOAnnouncements97/2014and103/2014.83Under NCPO rule, many journalists have been subjected to harassment and arbitrarydetention.RenownedjournalistPravitRojanaphrukwasarbitrarilydetainedincommunicado

82AFP,ThaijuntashutsTVchannelaspolllooms,22July201683Nation,Order to suspend Peace TV not related to previous case:NBTC, 8 July 2016; Bangkok Post,CDC slams ‘sevenreasonstovoteno’,12July2016

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twiceattwoseparatemilitarybases,from25to31May2014andfrom13to15September2015,forhiscriticismofthemilitaryjunta.84ThanapolEawsakul,co-editoroftheSameSkymagazine,wasalsodetainedtwiceatmilitarybasesinBangkok,from23to30May2014andfrom5to9July2014,forhiscriticismofthejunta.85On25May2014,ThaiArmypersonnelarbitrarilydetainedWatcharaMalikaew,ajournalistwiththeInsidePhuketmagazine,atamilitarybaseinNakhonSiThammarat.86On 27May 2014, the junta summoned Suparirk Thongchairit andWassana Nanum, tworeporters with the Thai Rath and Bangkok Post newspapers, for asking “inappropriate”questions to NCPO head General Prayuth Chan-ocha during a press conference a dayearlier.87On 4 October 2015, the NCPO summoned Thai Rath’s cartoonist Sukda Sae-Iew forquestioninginrelationtoacartoonaboutthejunta’seconomicpolicies.88On 22October 2015, theNCPO summoned Thaweeporn Kummetha (akaAm), a reporterwiththeonlinenewswebsitePrachatai,forquestioninginrelationtoanarticlepublishedbyPrachatai a day earlier. The Thai language article, authored by Thaweeporn, hadaccompaniedaninfographicthatlistedpossibleactionsthatcouldbedeemedillegalunderArticle112oftheCriminalCode.89On 22 June 2016, the Election Commission summonedMatichonWeekly cartoonist ArunWatcharasawat in connection with the publication of a cartoon that criticized the draftconstitutionthathadbeenrejectedbytheNationalReformCouncilinSeptember2015.90On 10 July 2016, police in Ratchaburi Province detained Prachatai journalist TaweesakKerdpokaunderArticle 61of theReferendumAct for 24hours.91 Taweesakwas arrestedwhiletravellingwithfouractivistswhowerecampaigningagainstthemilitary-backeddraftconstitutiontoreportontheiractivities.92On12July2016,militaryandpolicepersonnelinBangkok raidedPrachatai’soffice tosearch forcampaignmaterial thatcriticized thedraftconstitution.93Recommendations:84Nation,TheNation'sreporterreleasedbyNCPO,31May2014;Diplomat,HowThailand’sMilitaryJuntaTriedto‘AdjustMyAttitude’inDetention,23September201585Prachatai,SameSkyjournaleditordetainedagainforviolatingjunta’sreleaseorder,6July2014;CommitteetoProtectJournalists,Thaieditorheldforfourdays,accusedofviolatingmartiallaw,9July201486PhuketGazette,Phuketreporterandformerofficialsummonedbyarmy,26May201487Nation,TworeporterssummonedbyArmysecretary,warnednottotrytocornerjuntachief,27May201488Nation,Thaicartoonistsummonedbymilitaryjunta,4October201589 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Thailand: Intimidation and judicial harassment of Ms.ThaweepornKummetha,9November201590KhaosodEnglish,MatichonCartoonistSummonedforCriticizingCharter,ButNottheOneGoingtoaVote,22June201691Prachatai,Prachatai journalistdetainedforreportingonreferendum,10July2016;Reuters,Thailandfreesonbail fourheldforopposingdraftconstitution:lawyer,11July201692AP,Thainewswebsitesaysitsreporterdetainedwhilereporting,10July201693Prachatai,PrachataiNewsOfficeRaidedbyPolice,Soldiers,12July2016

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- UrgetheThaigovernmenttoliftallrestrictionsthatareinconsistentwithThailand’s

international legal obligationswith regard to the right to freedom of opinion andexpression.

- UrgetheNCPOtorepealAnnouncement97/2014andArticle5ofOrder3/2015.- Urge the authorities to cease the arbitrary detention, intimidation, and all acts of

harassmentagainstmediaworkers.- Urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Somyot

Prueksakasemsuk and all other individuals imprisoned under Article 112 of theCriminal Code for the mere exercise of their fundamental right to freedom ofopinionandexpression.

- CallontheThaigovernmenttoamendArticle112of theCriminalCodetoremoveprison terms for offenses stemming from the legitimate exercise of the right tofreedomofopinionandexpression.

- Call on the Thai government to lift the ban on publications and all othermaterialrelatedtotheThaimonarchytoensureafreeflowofideasandinformation.

- CallontheauthoritiestoendcensorshipofallprintandonlinematerialthatcontainsinformationrelatedtotheThaimonarchy.

- CallontheThaigovernmenttoamendArticle116of theCriminalCodetomake itcompliantwithThailand’s international legalobligationswithregardtotherighttofreedomofexpression.

- CallontheThaigovernmenttoarrangecountryvisitsfortheUNSpecialRapporteuronthepromotionandprotectionoftherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression,theUNWGAD,andtheUNSpecialRapporteurinthefieldofculturalrights.

Article21(Righttofreedomofpeacefulassembly)Following the Thai Army’s declaration of Martial Law on 20 May 2014 and the militaryjunta’s seizure of power two days later, severe restrictions on the right to freedom ofpeacefulassemblywereimposedthroughaseriesofjuntadecrees.On22May2014,therulingjunta,theNationalCouncilforPeaceandOrder(NCPO),bannedpublicgatheringsofmorethanfivepeopleunderAnnouncement7/2014,whichprovidesapunishment of one year in prison or a 20,000 baht (about US$570) fine, or both, forviolators.NCPO Announcement 57/2014, issued on 7 June 2014, bans all political parties from“holdingmeetingsorundertakinganypoliticalactivity.”NCPO Order 3/2015, issued on 1 April 2015, contains additional restrictions on publicassemblies.Article12ofOrder3/2015banspoliticalgatheringsofmore than fourpeopleandprescribesprisontermsofuptosixmonthsora10,000baht (aboutUS$285) fine,orboth,forviolators.Authoritieshave routinelyusedNCPOAnnouncement7/2014andOrder3/2015 todetainactivistsandindividualswhoexpresstheiroppositiontomilitaryrule.From22May2014to31 January 2017, authorities arrested at least 590 individuals for taking part in peaceful

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demonstrationsopposingmilitaryrule.94Insomecases,peacefulassembliesthatresultedinthe arrest of participants involved symbolic acts of defiance, such as reading GeorgeOrwell’snovel1984inpublicandeatingsandwiches.Atleast259werechargedunderNCPOAnnouncement7/2014orOrder3/2015.95Militarycourtstriedatleast257ofthosechargedand sentenced16of them to three-month suspendedprison sentences anda 5,000baht(aboutUS$143)fine,andonetoathree-monthsuspendedprisonsentenceanda4,000baht(aboutUS$114)fine.96Inaddition,authoritiesfrequentlyusedNCPOOrder3/2015toarrestorprosecutescoresofindividuals who sought to campaign against Thailand’s draft charter ahead of theconstitutionalreferendumheldon7August2016[Seebelow,Article25].NCPO Announcements 7/2014 and 57/2014 and Article 12 of NCPO Order 3/2015contravene Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),which states that no restrictions can be placed on the exercise of the right to peacefulassemblyother than those that are “necessary in ademocratic society in the interestsofnationalsecurityorpublicsafety,publicorder […].”TheThaigovernmenthasconsistentlyfailed toexplainhow the sweepingbanonassemblies contained in theabove-referencedNCPOdecrees iscompatiblewithArticle21ofthe ICCPR. In itsreplytotheHumanRightsCommittee(CCPR)’sListofIssues(LoI),thegovernmentjustifiedtheongoingrestrictionsontherighttopeacefulassemblywiththeneedto“restorestabilityandavoidfurtherviolencein the society,” and maintain “peace, order and security.”97 These vague criteria do notmeet the stringent test of necessity and the requirement of proportionality,whichmakerestrictionsunderArticle21permissible.98TheUnitedNations(UN)SpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociationhaspreviouslystressedthatfreedomtoassembleistobeconsideredtheruleanditsrestrictiontheexception.99PublicAssemblyActtargetsactivists,humanrightsdefendersThe Public Assembly Act, adopted by the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly(NLA) on 9 July 2015 and which came into effect on 13 August 2015, contains severalrestrictionsthatdonotcomplywithinternationalstandardsrelatedtotherighttopeacefulassembly,includingArticle21oftheICCPR.Thelawrequiresprotesterstoapplyforpermissionfrompolice24hoursinadvance.Itbansdemonstrationswithin150metersofroyalplaces,orwithinthecompoundsofGovernmentHouse, Parliament, and courthouses, unless a specific area has been authorized and

94iLaw,PoliticalRightsandFreedomofExpressioninThailand–2016Report:TheSoundofSilence,29December2016[inThai];iLaw,January2017monthlyreport,31January201795 iLaw,Charges against individuals after 2014 coup, 31 January 2017, https://freedom.ilaw.or.th/politically-charged [inThai]96 iLaw,Charges against individuals after 2014 coup, 31 January 2017, https://freedom.ilaw.or.th/politically-charged [inThai]97 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Paras.87,113,11598HumanRightsCouncil,23rdsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation,MainaKiai,24April2013,UNDoc.A/HRC/23/39,Para.4799HumanRightsCouncil,23rdsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation,MainaKiai,24April2013,UNDoc.A/HRC/23/39,Para.48

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designatedby authorities. It also bans rallies from6pm to 6amandbars protesters fromblockingentrancesorcreatingadisturbanceatgovernmentoffices,airports,seaports,trainand bus stations, hospitals, schools, and embassies. Violators of these clauses can faceprisontermsofuptosixmonthsorafineofupto10,000baht(aboutUS$285),orboth.TheUNSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociationhasrepeatedlystatedthatiforganizersofademonstrationfailtonotifytheauthorities,theassemblyshouldnotbedissolvedautomaticallyandtheorganizersshouldnotbesubjecttocriminal or administrative sanctions resulting in finesor imprisonment.100 TheRapporteuralsosaid that that spaces in thevicinityof iconicbuildings suchaspresidentialpalacesorparliamentsshouldalsobeconsideredpublicspaceandthatpeacefulassembliesshouldbeallowedtotakeplaceinthoselocations.101Since its enactment, authorities have invoked the Public Assembly Act many times toprevent activists and human rights defenders from holding public demonstrations oractivities.102Inaddition,on6January2016,policeinBangkokdetainedlaborunionleadersChalee Loysoong and Amorndech Srimuang and threatened to charge them under thePeaceful Assembly Act in connection with their union activities.103 In May 2016, humanrights lawyer Anon Nampa was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for hisparticipationintwopeacefuldemonstrationsinsupportofeightdetainedjuntacriticson20and27April2016,inBangkok.104InitsreplytotheCCPR’sLoI,theThaigovernmentstatedthatalmostallrequestsforpublicassembly had been approved except for a few public gatherings seen to be “politicallymotivated,misleading,andprovocative.”105Thesecriteriafailtomeetthetestofnecessityandproportionality andare inblatant contradictionwithArticle21of the ICCPR. TheUNSpecialRapporteuron the rights to freedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociationalsostatedthatanyrestrictionimposedonthenatureorcontentofthemessagetheorganizersandparticipantswant toconvey,especially in relationtocriticismofgovernmentpolicies,shouldbeproscribed.106Recommendations:- Urge the Thai government to lift all restrictions that are inconsistentwith Thailand’s

internationallegalobligationswithregardtotherighttofreedomofpeacefulassembly.

100HumanRightsCouncil,23rdsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation,MainaKiai,24April2013,UNDoc.A/HRC/23/39,Para.51101HumanRightsCouncil,23rdsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation,MainaKiai,24April2013,UNDoc.A/HRC/23/39,Para.66102Prachatai,ThaimilitaryforbidsyouthcampinLoeioreminearea,27August2015;Prachatai,ChiangMai-Bangkokrallyfor land rights aborted after pressure frommilitary, 24December 2015; Prachatai,Police intimidate activists rallying inIsaan,1July2016;Prachatai,Policeforbidcommemorationofanti-coupsuicide,20September2016;Prachatai,7anti-mineactivistssummonedunderPublicAssemblyAct,20December2016103Prachatai,Thaiauthoritiesdetain,followlabourunionleaders,8January2016104Prachatai,Update:Humanrightslawyerindictedwithshowingsupportforjuntacritics,24May2016105 Human Rights Committee, 119th session, Replies of Thailand to the list of issues, 15 November 2016, UN Doc.CCPR/C/THA/Q/2/Add.1,Para.117106HumanRightsCouncil,23rdsession,ReportoftheSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation,MainaKiai,24April2013,UNDoc.A/HRC/23/39,Para.59

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- Urge theNCPOto immediately repealAnnouncement7/2014andArticle12ofOrder3/2015.

- CallonthegovernmenttoarrangeacountryvisitfortheUNSpecialRapporteurontherightstofreedomofpeacefulassemblyandofassociation.

Article25(Participationinpublicaffairsandtherighttovote)ElectionresultsdisregardedSinceundergoingitsfirstreviewunderArticle40oftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPolitical Rights (ICCPR) in July 2005, Thailand experienced two military takeovers ofdemocratically elected governments, on 19 September 2006 and 22 May 2014. Militarycoupshavebeena regularoccurrence inThailand’smodernhistory,with12 coupsd’étatsincethecountrybecameaconstitutionalmonarchyin1932.The military justified the two most recent overthrows of democratically electedgovernmentsin2006and2014withthesamereasons–theneedtoensurenationalunityand reconciliation, and to fight corruption.107 Following the May 2014 coup, the rulingmilitaryjunta,theNationalCouncilforPeaceandOrder(NCPO)reiteratedthatthemilitarywouldcontinuetoseizepowerwhenever it isnecessary,toensurenationalreconciliation.On10February2015,NCPOheadGeneralPrayuthChan-ochadidnotruleoutthepossibilityof futuremilitarycoups.Prayuthstatedthat“Thailand isdifferentfromothercountries. Ifsomething cannot be solved [by the government], the military will solve it.”108 On 19January2017,NCPOdeputyheadGeneralPrawitWongsuwonconfirmedthatcoupswouldstill be necessary in cases “when the country is mired in conflict and lack ofunderstanding.”109Followingthe22May2014coup,theNCPOrepeatedlypromisedtoholdageneralelection.However,theNCPOdelayeditsinitialpledgetoholdageneralelectioninOctober2015,toSeptember2016,andthenagain,toJuly2017.Inthemostrecentdevelopmentrelatedtotheholdingofageneralelection,on5January2017,GeneralPrayuthannouncedthatthepollswouldnotbehelduntilearly2018.110TheoverthrowofanumberofdemocraticallyelectedgovernmentsbytheThaimilitary,andthe subsequent protracted delays in holding a general election are inconsistent withThailand’s obligations under Article 25(2) of the ICCPR. According to the Human RightsCommittee(CCPR)’sGeneralCommentNo.25,suchobligationsencompasstherespectfortheresultsofgenuineelectionsandtheneedforpollstobeheld“atintervalswhicharenotunduly longandwhichensurethattheauthorityofgovernmentcontinuestobebasedonthefreeexpressionofthewillofelectors.”111

107Guardian,Thaimilitary claims control after coup, 19 September 2006; Bloomberg,Thailand coup leader Sondhi saysgovernmentcorrupt,20September2006;Guardian,CoupneededforThailand‘toloveandbeatpeaceagain’-armychief,23May2014;NikkeiAsianReview,Thaileaderpledgestoweedoutcorruptionbeforeelection,10February2015108NikkeiAsianReview,Thaileaderpledgestoweedoutcorruptionbeforeelection,10February2015109BangkokPost,Prawitspurnscallsformilitarytosignunitypact,19January2017110Nation,Electiontobeheldearlynextyear,PMtellsCanadianenvoy,6January2017111HumanRightsCommittee,57thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.25:Article25(Participation inPublicAffairsandtheRighttoVote),12July1996,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7,Paras.9and19

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UnelectedlegislativebodyajuntarubberstampThe May 2014 military coup also deprived Thai citizens of the right to take part in theconduct of public affairs through freely chosen representatives – a right guaranteed byArticle25(a)oftheICCPR.AfterabolishingtheSenateandtemporarilyassumingthepowersandresponsibilityofbothhousesofParliament,on31 July2014,NCPOheadGeneralPrayuthChan-ocha installedafully appointed unicameral legislative body, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), toadopt lawsduring the junta’s rule.112 TheNLA,originally composedof200members,wasprogressivelyexpandedto250.113MorethanhalfofNLAmembersarehigh-rankingmilitaryandpoliceofficers.114TheNLAactsasarubberstamptoadoptlegislationpromotedbytheNCPOwithoutmuch debate or opposition. Between 16 September 2014 and 27 January2017,theNLApassed217laws.Withonlyoneexception,everyvotewasnearlyunanimous.TheaverageapprovalrateofthelawsamongtheNLAmemberswas96%.ConstitutionalreferendumprocessnotinlinewithICCPRThereferendumprocessthatledtotheapprovalofThailand’snewconstitutionon7August2016failedtocomplywithArticle25(b)oftheICCPR.115The CCPR’s General Comment No. 25 states that freedom of expression, assembly, andassociationareessentialconditionsfortheeffectiveexerciseoftherighttovoteandmustbefullyprotected.116ItalsostressesthattoensurethefullenjoymentofrightsprotectedbyArticle25oftheICCPR,thefreecommunicationofinformationandideasaboutpublicandpolitical issuesbetweencitizens isessential. It requiresthefullenjoymentandrespect fortherightsguaranteedinArticles19,21,and22oftheICCPR,includingfreedomtoengageinpoliticalactivityindividuallyorthroughpoliticalpartiesandotherorganizations,freedomtodebate public affairs, to hold peaceful demonstrations and meetings, to criticize andoppose,topublishpoliticalmaterial,andtoadvertisepoliticalideas.117None of the above-mentioned conditions were present in the lead-up to the 7 Augustreferendum.Thailand’soppressivelegalframework[Seeabove,Article19,Article21]stifledfree and open public debates on the draft constitution due to numerous provisions thatimposedsevererestrictionsontherighttofreedomofopinionandexpressionandtherightto freedomofpeacefulassembly.Authorities frequentlyusedrepressiveNCPOdecrees toprevent individuals and civil society from campaigning against the draft constitution.Political parties were unable to campaign as a result of NCPO Announcement 57/2014,112Reuters,Thaijuntagivessecurityforcesmajorityininterimlegislature,31July2014113 Thai PBS, 28 newmembers of the NLA appointed, 28 September 2014; Prachatai,More soldiers without legislativeexperienceappointedaslawmakers,12October2016114Prachatai,Threemoremilitarygeneralsappointedaslawmakers,3February2017115Article25(b)guaranteestherightofeverycitizentovoteandtobeelectedatgenuineperiodicelectionsthisshallbebyuniversalandequalsuffrageandshallbeheldbysecretballot,guaranteeingthefreeexpressionofthewilloftheelectors.116HumanRightsCommittee,57thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.25:Article25(Participation inPublicAffairsandtheRighttoVote),12July1996,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7,Para.12117HumanRightsCommittee,57thsession,CCPRGeneralCommentNo.25:Article25(Participation inPublicAffairsandtheRighttoVote),12July1996,UNDoc.CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7,Para.25

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issued on 7 June 2014, which bans all political parties from “holding meetings orundertakinganypoliticalactivity.”Inaddition,theReferendumAct,approvedbythejunta-appointedNLAon7April2016withan effective date of 23 April 2016, contained specific provisions designed to preventcriticismof thedraft constitution.UnderArticle 61of theReferendumAct, “anyonewhodisseminates text, images or sound, through newspapers, radio, TV, electronic media orother channels, that are either false or delivered in a violent, offensive, rude, inciting orthreateningway,withtheintentiontoinfluencevoterstorefrainfromvotingorvotinginacertainway,orabstainfromvoting,shallbeconsideredasapersonwhocreatesconfusioninordertodisruptvotingprocedures.”Violatorsfacedjailtermsofupto10years,finesofupto200,000baht(aboutUS$5,713),andtherevocationofvotingrightsforaperiodofupto 10 years. In addition, Article 63 of the Referendum Act prohibited the publication ofopinionpollsorsurveysrelatedtothereferendumfromsevendayspriorto7Augustuntiltheendofvotingday.Violatorsfacedimprisonmentforuptothreemonthsora6,000baht(aboutUS$171)fine,orboth.AuthoritiesfrequentlyusedtheReferendumActtoarbitrarilyarrestandchargeindividualswhocriticizedorcampaignedagainstthedraftconstitution.From27Aprilto6August2016,authorities arbitrarily detained at least 55 people under NCPO Order 3/2015 and theReferendumActforcriticizingorcampaigningagainstthedraftconstitution.Authoritiesalsodetainedatleast38membersoftheanti-establishmentUnitedFrontforDemocracyAgainstDictatorship (UDD) in connection with the group’s attempts to establish referendummonitoringcenters.118Inadditiontothenumerousinstancesofarbitrarydetentionofcriticsofthedraftcharter,authorities also imposed other significant restrictions on public debate of the draftconstitution. Police and military personnel regularly attended and monitored publicdiscussions on the draft constitution.119 Inmany cases, authorities ordered organizers tocancel seminars and panel discussions on the draft charter.120 In others instances,authoritiesintimidatedmeetingparticipants.121Recommendations:- CallontheThaiArmedForcestorespecttheresultsoffuturefreeandfairelectionsandrefrainfromseizingpowerfromdemocraticallyelectedgovernments.

118FIDH,Unfairreferendumprocessdemandstherepealofoppressivedecrees,10August2016119BangkokPost,Groupseeksreferendumbillchallenge,11May2016;Prachatai,Policeconfiscateflyersondraftcharterfromacademic,25April2016;BangkokPost,Heedvoiceofwomen,govturged,20June2016120Prachatai,Seminaraboutnewcharterdraftabortedat junta’sorder,4February2016;BangkokPost,AmnatCharoenauthoritiesclosesamecharter forumtwice,13February2016;BangkokPost, Juntagives students runaroundat footballgame, 14 February 2016; Prachatai, Seminar on draft charter aborted over junta’s political gathering ban, 27 February2016;BangkokPost,Charter talksbanned,2April2016;KhaosodEnglish, JuntaBansBookstoreTalkonDraftCharter,2April2016;BangkokPost,Groupseeksreferendumbillchallenge,11May2016121 Prachatai, Police confiscate flyers on draft charter from academic, 25 April, 2016; Prachatai,Police ask organiser ofseminarondraftcharterwhetherhehasabrain,15June2016;BangkokPost,Groupseeksreferendumbillchallenge,11May2016

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- Call on the Constitution Drafting Committee and theNLA to ensure that the organiclawsnecessaryfortheholdingofageneralelectionconformtointernationalstandardsforelections.

- UrgetheNCPOtoholdageneralelectionwithoutdelayandallowforcampaigningbypoliticalpartiesandanopenpublicdebatepriortothepolls.

- Urge the NCPO to repeal Announcement 57/2014 to allow political parties to holdmeetingsandundertakepoliticalactivities.

- CallontheThaiauthoritiestodropcriminalproceedingsagainstallindividualschargedunderNCPOOrder3/2015andtheReferendumActforexercisingtheirrighttofreedomof opinion andexpression and the right topeaceful assembly in relation to thedraftcharterandtheconstitutionalreferendum.