ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) joined with seven other international rights groups on Thursday to call on Thai authorities to drop charges against two journalists in southern Thailand.
July 11, 2015
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) joined with seven other international rights groups on Thursday to call on Thai authorities to drop charges against two journalists in southern Thailand.
In a letter to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the organizations urged the government to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its criminal libel complaint against Phuketwan editor Alan Morison and reporter Chumita Sidasathian. They also called for authorities to drop charges against the pair of journalists for violating the Computer Crime Act (CCA), arguing that continuing with the trial against them would be in violation of Thailand’s commitments under international law.
“By taking legal action against Phuketwan, the Thai government is threatening precisely the rights that the government itself described as the ‘bedrock of Thailand’s democratic society,’” the letter read.
The coalition of rights groups also called on Thailand to abolish criminal defamation laws and repeal or amend the CCA to comply with international law and standards.
“We believe it is not too late for the Thai government to undertake such an alternative to criminal prosecution, which would demonstrate respect for fundamental rights on a matter of concern to many foreign governments,” the letter argued.
Read the full letter here.
Source : www.aseanmp.org
