KINGDOM OF THAILAND: Decision to dissolve political party shows restrictive environment for human rights

14 Mar 2019

[International Secretariat]

Region: KINGDOM OF THAILAND

Topic:

 “This decision highlights the Thai authorities’ abuse of judicial powers to restrict the peaceful association and expression of the political opposition. This far-reaching measure raises strong concerns about the human rights to freedom of association and expression in the period leading to the elections.

“We call on the military government and all election candidates to commit to protecting these fundamental rights during the elections – and for the next government to undertake deep reforms to end the continued decline in human rights protections.

“Serious human rights violations have flourished in Thailand's past decade of political instability, including these last four years of military rule. Sweeping and vaguely worded legal restrictions, including a ban on meetings of five or more persons for ‘political’ purposes, have facilitated a wide-ranging attack on political opponents and civil society.”

Background

The Constitutional Court today ruled that the Thai Raksa Chart Party should be dissolved. It determined that the party’s nomination of Thun Kramom Ying Ubolratana Rajakanya was ‘hostile to the constitutional monarchy’ and in breach of the Political Parties Act 2017. It also ruled that the party executives should be banned from competing in elections for 10 years.

Ahead of the elections scheduled for 24 March 2019, Amnesty International has put forward a Human Rights Agenda which outlines nine top human rights issues that parliamentary candidates, and those elected to the next government, must prioritize. These include the rights to freedom from torture and enforced disappearance, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and the right to privacy in the design of cybersecurity measures.

7 March 2019
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA QUOTE