International action needed on 112

Carolyn Nash, Amnesty International USA’s Asia Advocacy Director for Government Relations calls on the USA to do more on political repression and lese majeste in Thailand. She observes:

May 28, twenty-eight-year-old Thai democracy activist Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom died following a 65-day hunger strike. United States Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec tweeted condolences to her family and friends, but made no mention of the context in which her death occurred: Bung had been arbitrarily detained under charges of lèse-majesté….

Noting the pathetic nature of some of the charges laid under the draconian Article 112, Nash observes that “Thai and international human rights groups have made repeated calls for the Thai government to reform or repeal the law,” but with almost no impact.

Even when at least 286 children are charged or prosecuted with political crimes, governments including that of the USA, have been disturbingly quiet. China, of course, is studiously silent. Nash states:

… U.S. officials have remained largely mute on Thailand’s continued use of lèse-majesté to silence dissent – a decision that reflects both a human rights failure and political miscalculation by the United States.

She adds: “Continuation of U.S. silence is likely to contribute to an escalating assault on political and civic freedom in Thailand.”