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The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on Thai authorities Friday to amend a Thai criminal code provision that punishes insulting the country’s monarchy. The OHCHR statement came in response to the arrest of as many as 35 protesters, including a 16-year-old student, in recent weeks.
Under section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code of 2003, known as the lèse majesté law, individuals can be sentenced to between three and 15 years of imprisonment for defaming, insulting or threatening the Thai king, queen, heir apparent, or regent.
The UN Human Rights Office stated the law is not in consonance with Thailand’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), besides being a blatant violation of rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. As per General Comment No. 35 of the UN Human Rights Committee, any arrest or detention carried out as a punishment for the legitimate exercise of the rights guaranteed by the ICCPR- including freedom of opinion and expression under Article 19 and freedom of assembly under Article 21- constitutes an “arbitrary” arrest or detention.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed her concern over the arbitrary detentions: “We are particularly alarmed that the 16-year-old activist was yesterday presented by police to the Juvenile Court with a request for a detention order.”
The UN Human Rights Office also expressed its concerns over various other serious criminal charges against protesters engaging in peaceful protests in Thailand, including charges of sedition and offences under the Computer Crime Act, while urging Thai authorities to bring its Criminal Code in line with the ICCPR.
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Under section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code of 2003, known as the lèse majesté law, individuals can be sentenced to between three and 15 years of imprisonment for defaming, insulting or threatening the Thai king, queen, heir apparent, or regent.
The UN Human Rights Office stated the law is not in consonance with Thailand’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), besides being a blatant violation of rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. As per General Comment No. 35 of the UN Human Rights Committee, any arrest or detention carried out as a punishment for the legitimate exercise of the rights guaranteed by the ICCPR- including freedom of opinion and expression under Article 19 and freedom of assembly under Article 21- constitutes an “arbitrary” arrest or detention.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed her concern over the arbitrary detentions: “We are particularly alarmed that the 16-year-old activist was yesterday presented by police to the Juvenile Court with a request for a detention order.”
The UN Human Rights Office also expressed its concerns over various other serious criminal charges against protesters engaging in peaceful protests in Thailand, including charges of sedition and offences under the Computer Crime Act, while urging Thai authorities to bring its Criminal Code in line with the ICCPR.
Did you know that about 30 percent of charitable giving happens in December?
It’s an important month for nonprofits like JURIST that rely on donor support. Your gift of $50, $100, $200 or $500 will help JURIST to keep its legal news and commentary free and accessible to a worldwide public.
Thanks for your support!
DONATE NOW
The post UN human rights office urges Thailand to amend royal insult law appeared first on JURIST - News - Legal News & Commentary.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.