Joint Statement

Thailand: Free all political prisoners and abolish the draconian lèse majesté law

13 February 2021

We are deeply concerned over the rejection of bail for four prominent Thai pro-democracy activists for charges under the draconian lèse majesté law.

Parit Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyaem have been detained and denied bail since 9^th February 2021, for lèse majesté charges under Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code. There are also many more people are already being charged recently under the lèse majesté law. 

This is the latest of attempt of political motivated prosecution by the Thai government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha against pro-democracy activists who have voiced out their demands peacefully. The people of Thailand have expressed their demands for democratic constitutional changes, ending the use of draconian laws in silencing dissent and the resignation of Prayut regime in order to pave way for new democratic elections since last year in massive street mobilizations. Prayut regime is seemed to be intended to cling on power through the continuous use of arrests and charges under lèse majestè law.  

Hence, we call for:

• Immediate release of Parit Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyaem, as well as all other political prisoners;
• Drop charges against all pro-democracy activists;
• Stop the intimidation against pro-democracy activities;
• Abolishment of the draconian lèse majestè law and all other repressive laws;
• Realisation the 3+10 demands for democratic reforms that put forward by the pro-democracy movement in Thailand since last year.

Signed by,

1. Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)
2. Socialist Workers Thailand
3. Party of the Laboring Masses (PLM), Philippines
4. Working People’s Party (PRP), Indonesia
5. Malaysian Support Group for Democracy in Thailand
6. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Malaysia
7. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia
8. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France
9. Pour une Ecologie Populaire et Sociale (PEPS), France
10. Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Unions, Sri Lanka
11. Socialist Alliance, Australia
12. Centre d’études et d’initiatives de solidarité internationale (Cedetim), France
13. New Anticapitalist Party (NPA), France
14. Thailand Human Right Campaign UK