The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Thai government to release two activists, Orawan Phuphong and Tantawan Tuatulanon, who were arrested for criticizing the monarchy and now face a lengthy sentence.
«The Thai government must drop the unjust cases against Orawan, Tantawan and other defendants for their peaceful protests demanding reforms of the monarchy,» said HRW’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson.
«Holding these activists in pre-trial detention for peacefully exercising their rights is punitive and cruel,» she added.
Orawan Phuphong and Tantawan Tuatulanon were arrested on January 16 after appearing in court to voluntarily revoke their own bail with the intention of returning to the Central Women’s Correctional Center (CWCI) and going on hunger strike. The two citizens demanded the release of all women detained for political reasons as well as the adoption of legal reforms on the lèse-majesté and sedition laws.
On January 18, they began a hunger strike at the prison in the Thai capital of Bangkok for what they considered an illegal pre-trial detention due to their political stance against the monarchy. This Friday, the two citizens were taken to a hospital after fainting in the correctional facility.
Thai authorities have charged the activists with several criminal offenses, including lese majeste, after they conducted a public opinion poll on royal parades and motorcades.
According to the organization, Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code punishes the crime of lese majeste with up to 15 years in prison.
HRW has also highlighted the increase in arrests for the same offense in the last year, after a three-year hiatus in which these cases were not brought to court. However, in November 2020, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan Ocha ordered the resumption of lèse-majesté prosecutions, apparently due to the rise of positions critical of the country’s monarchy.
According to data from the organization, since that time more than 200 people have been charged for this crime and in relation to their participation in pro-democracy rallies or messages on social networks.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
