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E. Yingluck Shinnawatra

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

Government House

Thanon Phitsanulok, Dusit

Bangkok 10300, Thailand

January 11, 2013

Subject: Judicial harassment against Thai human rights defender and Editor Somyot

Prueksakasemsuk

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned individuals and civil society organizations in Thailand and around the

world, write to you once again to urge Thailand to respect international human rights law

and protect freedom of expression by ending the judicial harassment against Somyot

Prueksakasemsuk and securing his unconditional release at the earliest instance. A father

of two, Somyot has already been in remand detention for 21 consecutive months on theso-called lese majeste charges, for having published two satirical political commentaries

in a magazine he edited.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers Somyot's detention

to be arbitrary and in violation of international law, and has called for his release. Thai

academics, activists, families of those affected by the lese majeste law, and colleagues of

Somyots have repeatedly called for Somyots release.We also wish to stress that the

constant denial of his right to bail- 12 time so far is inconsistent with the principle of

presumption of innocence. The Royal Thai Government should respect the constitutional

provisions granting the right to bail, in accordance with international fair trial standards

The chorus of domestic opposition to the abuse of the lese majeste law is growing by the

day and the handling of Somyots case is a crucial litmus test of the Royal Thai

Governments commitment to the rule of law and democratic principles.

A verdict on Somyots trial is expected to be delivered by the Criminal Court on January

23, 2013. We believe that he should not have been charged in the first place. Somyots

right to freedom of expression, regardless of his political opinion, is protected both by the

Constitution and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which

is binding on Thailand. Whether the two articles on which the charges against Somyot

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were based constitute criminal offence is also highly questionable. Rather than witch-

hunting political opponents, ensuring an open and free space for discussion of politics

and other issues of public interests reduces social tension and contributes to a national

reconciliation.

Criminalizing political speech and persecuting an editor who was not the author does not

reflect the commitment to human rights Thailand has often professed on the international

stage, especially as a country that plans to seek a seat on the UN Security Council and is a

member of the Human Rights Council. Once upon a time, Thailand claimed to be ademocracy and was in fact considered as one of the most progressive countries within

ASEAN, but the abuse of restrictive legislations to criminalize citizens like Somyot has since

undermined Thailands credibility and its efforts to distinguish itself from authoritarian

regimes in the region.

We remain hopeful that the Royal Thai Government still attaches importance to human

rights and can end unjust actions against its citizens. We therefore respectfully call upon

your administration and all organs of the Government to take all appropriate steps to

ensure that Somyots arbitrary detention ends immediately and that he is able to exercise

peacefully his fundamental human rights, without reprisals of any kind, including at the

judicial level.

Thank you for your serious consideration of our concerns and recommendations. We look

forward to your response and actions in favor of freedom of expression.

Sincerely yours,

Bishnu Rimal

PresidentGEFONT