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A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

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24<br />

Date<br />

Type<br />

14/12/2012<br />

AL<br />

Case No<br />

Country Mandate(s) Summary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> allegati<strong>on</strong> transmitted Reply<br />

THA 13/2012<br />

Thailand<br />

Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

expressi<strong>on</strong>;<br />

Alleged violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong> and expressi<strong>on</strong><br />

committed under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lèse majesté. According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />

received, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Thailand c<strong>on</strong>tains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clause, ―The King<br />

shall be enthr<strong>on</strong>ed in a positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> revered worship and shall not be violated.<br />

No pers<strong>on</strong> shall expose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> King to any sort <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> accusati<strong>on</strong> or acti<strong>on</strong>. ―Article<br />

112 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Criminal Code states that ‗Whoever defames, insults or threatens<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> King, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Queen, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Heir-apparent or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Regent, shall be punished with<br />

impris<strong>on</strong>ment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three to fifteen years‖. These provisi<strong>on</strong>s are applied in a<br />

manner and with a frequency which raises c<strong>on</strong>cerns. The severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

punishments received, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exempti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al or legal<br />

grounds and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> force it exerts over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judicial system adds to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chilling<br />

effect <strong>on</strong> free speech. Unlike regular defamati<strong>on</strong> cases, which can <strong>on</strong>ly be<br />

initiated by a damaged party, lèse majesté complaints can be made by<br />

any<strong>on</strong>e in Thailand, which has resulted in a sharp increase <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

last years. From 2003 to November 2012, 58 cases under lèse majesté have<br />

been documented, involving Thitinant Kaewchantran<strong>on</strong>t, Nattakarn<br />

Sakuldarachard, Surapak Phuchaisang, Chanin Klaiklueng, Amp<strong>on</strong><br />

Tangnoppakul, Ibrahim Fahad A. Alsubaie, Thanthawut Taweewarodomkul,<br />

Yotwarit Chooklom, Suchart Nakbangsai, Weera Musikkap<strong>on</strong>g, Parichat<br />

Wangdee, Ratchapin Juncharoen, S<strong>on</strong>dhi Limth<strong>on</strong>gkul, Oliver Jufer, Robert<br />

R, Tassaporn Rattanaw<strong>on</strong>gsa, Theeranan Wiphuchanin, Noppawan<br />

Tangudomsuk, Surachai Danwattananusorn, Bo<strong>on</strong>yuen Prasertying,<br />

Kannikar Tangphanit, Nattap<strong>on</strong> Wattanam<strong>on</strong>gkol, Rangsan Sangsuk,<br />

Anth<strong>on</strong>y Chai, Chotisak On-so<strong>on</strong>g, J<strong>on</strong>athan Head, Nikom Udomdech,<br />

Daranee Chancherngsilpakul, Jakrapob Penkair, Suriyan Kokpuey, Kritthi<br />

Raruk-luedet, Wiset Phishitlumken, Joe Gord<strong>on</strong>, Norawes Yospiyasati<strong>on</strong>,<br />

Satien Rattanaw<strong>on</strong>g, Akechai H<strong>on</strong>gkangwarn, Hamdan Al-idreesee,<br />

Suwicha Takor, Bandit Arniya, Kochi Tagahachi; Somchit<br />

Wiriyasathabadee; Satit Laemkla; Harry Nicolaides; Wanchai Sae-t<strong>on</strong>;<br />

Weera Musikkap<strong>on</strong>g; Wipas Raksakulthai; Bundinee Sutsuk<strong>on</strong>; Watchara<br />

Pholnawee; Wipas Raksakulthai; Tarit Pengdit, Robert Amsterdam, Somyot<br />

Pruksakasemsuk, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Somsak Jiem<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>erasakul,<br />

Surapot Taweesak, Sulak Sivaraksa, and Bo<strong>on</strong>s<strong>on</strong>g Chaisingkanan<strong>on</strong>t.<br />

26/12/2012<br />

A/<str<strong>on</strong>g>HRC</str<strong>on</strong>g>/<str<strong>on</strong>g>23</str<strong>on</strong>g>/<str<strong>on</strong>g>51</str<strong>on</strong>g>

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