RWB and 31 other groups call for changes to lèse majesté laws
Reporters Without Borders (29 April 2009: “Reporters Without Borders and 31 other organisations urge Thai government to amend lese majeste law”)and 31 other human rights, press freedom and journalists organisations have mad a joint appeal to the Thai government for a revision of article 112 of the Thai criminal code on lèse majesté.
RWB also wrote to Thailand’s king asking him to pardon Suwicha. Speaking from prison, Suwicha told RWB: “I posted a video of the king on the Internet…. The police should have told me what I was doing was wrong. It is not right to be sentenced to 10 years in prison for this. I am not a problem for the country or its security. I am in prison for nothing.”
RWB and their associates say: “We see the current trend of multiple prosecutions for the same offences intended to stifle commentary, opinion and dissent.” The appeal wants Thai authorities to “work with local free speech organisations for a moratorium on lese majeste prosecution so that a constructive dialogue can begin on the issue of Internet freedom.”
The appeal calls for:
- the decriminalization of lese majeste law and the Computer-related Crime Act, which related to the principle of free expression.
- review and reform of the criminal code statutes applied to lese majeste.
‐ A public awareness campaign to alert Internet users to the risks they are running if their posts are ever deemed to have attacked the monarchy as well as clear and accyrate information by government of as to citizens’ legal rights.
‐ publication of the blocklist of websites which have been closed down or blocked for lese majeste ans government’s precise reasons for doing so in order to build a transparent public policy.
‐ withdrawal of plans to incorporate lese majeste into amendments of the Computer Crimes Act 2007, with review and reform of the law to encourage freedom of expression, as required by the Thai constitution.
The appeal is here, where readers can add their name.
Comments are closed.