OHCHR / THAILAND

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said it was “deeply troubled” by the move by Thai authorities to charge at least 35 activists over the past few weeks, “including a 16-year old student activist,” under its lese-majeste law, according to a Spokesperson. OHCHR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:05
• Production Date: 18 December 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: RAVINA SHAMDASANI
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - UNHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: THAILAND
• MAMS Id: 2594268
• Parent Id: 2594268
• Alternate Title: unifeed201218a

Description

STORY: OHCHR / THAILAND
TRT: 2:06
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 18 DECEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Aerial shot, Palais Wilson exterior

18 DECEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are deeply troubled by the move by Thai authorities to charge at least 35 activists over the past few weeks, including a 16-year old student activist, under Article 112 – the lese-majeste provision of Thailand’s criminal code. The offence carries sentences of between three and 15 years’ imprisonment for defaming, insulting or threatening the country’s royal family. We are particularly alarmed that the 16-year-old activist was presented by the police to the Juvenile Court with a request for a detention order. A number of UN human rights mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Committee, which oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, have repeatedly called on Thailand over the past decade to bring this law in line with the country’s international obligations. It is extremely disappointing that after a period of two years without any cases, we are suddenly witnessing a large number of cases, and – shockingly – now also against a minor. We also remain concerned that other serious criminal charges are being filed against activists engaged in peaceful protests in recent months, including charges of sedition and offences under the Computer Crimes Act. Again, such charges have been filed against a minor, among others. We call on the Government of Thailand to stop the repeated use of such serious criminal charges against individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. People should be able to exercise these rights without fear of reprisals. The UN Human Rights Committee has found that detention of individuals solely for exercising these rights constitutes arbitrary arrest or detention. We also urge the Government to amend the lese majeste law and bring it into line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on the right to freedom of expression.”

FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

3. Aerial shot, Palais Wilson exterior

Storyline

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said it was “deeply troubled” by the move by Thai authorities to charge at least 35 activists over the past few weeks, “including a 16-year old student activist,” under its lese-majeste law, according to a Spokesperson.

In a video statement released today (18 Dec), OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the offence carries sentences of between three- and 15-years’ imprisonment for “defaming, insulting or threatening the country’s royal family.” She said, “We are particularly alarmed that the 16-year-old activist was presented by the police to the Juvenile Court with a request for a detention order.”

Shamdasani added, “A number of UN human rights mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Committee, which oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, have repeatedly called on Thailand over the past decade to bring this law in line with the country’s international obligations. It is extremely disappointing that after a period of two years without any cases, we are suddenly witnessing a large number of cases, and – shockingly – now also against a minor.”

The spokesperson expressed OHCHR’s concern that other “serious criminal charges” are being filed against activists engaged in peaceful protests in recent months, including charges of “sedition and offences under the Computer Crime Act. Again, such charges have been filed against a minor, among others.”

OHCHR called on the Government of Thailand to stop the repeated use of such serious criminal charges against individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Shamdasani said, “People should be able to exercise these rights without fear of reprisals. The UN Human Rights Committee has found that detention of individuals solely for exercising the right to freedom of expression or other human rights constitutes arbitrary arrest or detention.”

OHCHR urged the Thai Government to amend the lese majeste law and bring it into line with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the right to freedom of expression.