LETTER | Stop crackdown on pro-democracy movement in Thailand

LETTER | We find the situation in Thailand totally unacceptable as the Prayut administration continues to suppress the pro-democracy movement.

We have witnessed a massive wave of pro-democracy demonstrations in recent months, which put forward 3+10 demands for democratic reforms. These demands are:

- Dissolution of the parliament to hold a fresh, free and fair election.

- End intimidation of the people who criticise the government.

- A new constitution to replace the current military-sanctioned constitution.

- 10 demands of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration to reform the Thai monarchy in line with democratic principles, including the abolition of the draconian lèse-majesté law.

The government of Thailand led by Prayut Chan-o-cha has responded with repressive measures including the declaration of “severe” state of emergency on Oct 15, 2020, banning or blocking of online media that is critical of the government, using excessive force to disperse protesters, and arrests of pro-democracy activists.

A number of pro-democracy activists have been arrested in recent days, and many were denied bail. Most of them were charged with “sedition” or violating the newly promulgated Emergency Decree.

This is an attempt by the Thai government to silence dissent and suppress the pro-democracy movement. Among the pro-democracy activists who have been arrested and denied bail are:

- Parit Chiwarak (student activist)

- Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (student activist)

- Panupong Jadnork

- Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (human rights activist and former lèse-majesté prisoner)

- Ekachai Hongkangwan (former lèse-majesté prisoner)

- Somyot Pruksakasemsuk (labour activist and former lèse-majesté prisoner) - Suranart Panprasert

We strongly condemn the government of Thailand for the ongoing crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

We put forth these blatant human rights violations on the Thai people deprived of their democratic right and freedom of speech to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to look seriously into these violations and raise it in any available regional human rights mechanism.

Concerned Malaysians and as constituents of the Asean community will not stand by and watch as Prayut Chan-o-cha’s authoritarian government tramples upon their rights.

Thus we call on Suhakam to raise the following demands to the government of Thailand:

- Immediately release of pro-democracy activists who have been detained and all political prisoners.

- Drop charges against pro-democracy activists.

- Monitor lifting the state of emergency as promised by the Government and end the crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

- Stop the intimidation against pro-democracy activities.

- Repeal repressive laws, including the lèse-majesté laws.

- Fulfil the 3+10 demands that were put forward by the pro-democracy movement.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.