RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN THAILAND: ILLEGITIMATE MILITARY JUNTA STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY

JUNE 2, 2014

Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha

National Council for Peace and Order

Via

H.E. Mr. Krit Kraichitti

Ambassador

Royal Thai Embassy

206, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur,

50450, Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN THAILAND: ILLEGITIMATE MILITARY JUNTA STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY

We the undersigned civil society organizations, trade unions and democratic movements in Malaysia demand that the military rule in Thailand be immediately ended and democracy be restored. The political crisis in Thailand should be resolved in a democratic and peaceful manner where the people of Thailand will be able to participate in the fullest sense in determining the future of the country.  

We have seen that all experiences with military juntas all over the world have spelled the death of democracy. Military rule and repression is not the solution to resolve the current political impasse in Thailand, but rather to fuel it further, at the expense of all Thai people, especially the workers, farmers and other working people.  

Since the announcement of the martial law on 20 May and the military take over on 22 May, the constitution of Thailand has been suspended. This effectively gives the military unlimited powers to restrict human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed in the constitution and replace them with martial law provisions. Under the martial law, the military can prohibit any activity, censor the media, outlaw meetings and assemblies, search and seize any item, occupy areas, and detain people without charge for up to seven days. We are extremely concerned with the massive human rights violations that are taking place now and this certainly does not help to improve the political situation in Thailand. 

Press freedom has been severely undermined by the military regime with the soldiers taking over television and radio stations, censorship of print media and threats to close down social media. While this is not only preventing the Thai people to access information crucial on the political development in Thailand and to make an informed decision, it is also censoring information and news reporting that are critical of the military takeover and the monarchy that plays a pivotal role in  Thai politics.  

There have been mass arrests as well and these included wide sections of Thai civil society and political parties. Among those arrested are trade unionists, mass organization leaders, political party leaders from both the contending political parties, journalists, academics, ex-political prisoners and even the families of current political detainees, such as the wife and son of Somyot Phueksakasemsuk, who were convicted for lese majeste. As most of these detainees are held at undisclosed locations and have no access to their families and lawyers, this raises grave concerns on their well-being given that they are totally at the mercy of the military and the action of the military cannot be challenged under the martial law. We condemn these arbitrary arrests and the incommunicado detention.

Furthermore, all protest and peaceful assemblies have been banned and clamped down by the military, including those critical of the military coup. The Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha has warned that stricter action will be taken against those that continue to defy the military orders.     

In addition, the military junta has issued orders for lese majeste cases to be tried in a military court instead of civil court. Violation of the junta’s orders will also be tried in military court. This severely undermines the right to independent and fair trial of the Thai people, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.   

Such a wide net cast over the Thai peoples is clearly indicative of the military regime’s intention to silence all critics of the military coup and the monarchy.

We reject the military junta’s justification that the coup is to restore peace and order. This is totally unacceptable and we as members of the international community and members of ASEAN demand the following:

1. Repeal the martial law immediately, and all soldiers should return to their barracks and the elected government should be restored.

2. Reinstate the Constitution of Thailand and rights and fundamental freedoms of the people

3. Release all political detainees, including those held under the insidious lese-majeste law and stop the arrests of all political dissidents and people calling for democracy and justice.

4. Respect press freedom and allow the media to operate freely without harassment and censorship.

5 The two sides of the political divides in Thailand to return to political negotiations in order to find a solution to the political crisis.

6. ASEAN governments to urge the military regime to end the coup in Thailand.

7. Global civil society and trade unions to oppose the military regime and support the restoration of democracy in Thailand.

We stand in solidarity with all the people, inside and outside Thailand, who continue to stand and struggle for democracy in Thailand.

End Martial Law, Restore Democracy!