(Hong Kong, April29, 2014) Scholars from around the world gathered for a Thai studies conference in Sydney have called for the release of SomyotPrueksakasemsuk and other persons imprisoned under Thailand’s antiquated lese majesty laws.
In an open letter issued last Thursday, 35 academics from Thailand, Australia and other countries attending the 14th International Thai Studies Conference at the University of Sydney urged that Somyot and other people imprisoned under section 112 for defaming the monarchy be released. They also called for the abolition of the section.
“In Somyot’s case, the charges were for allegedly allowing two articles with anti-monarchy content to be published in Voice of Taksin magazine,” of which he was editor, the open letter notes.
The group added that from the time of the charges brought against him, Somyot has been held in prison and denied bail, like other persons accused under section 112.
The signatories also held a public gathering on the campus, at which the heard about the case and held aloft Somyot’s picture.
Bijo Francis, executive director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, said that the sooner lese majesty detainees were released and section 112 abolished the better.
“That police and other officials charged with crimes like murder and assault walk free from Thailand’s courts on bail while people accused of thought crimes languish in jail really is an indictment on the entire justice system,” Francis said.
The Hong Kong-based regional rights group has issued numerous interventions on Somyot’s case, available here: http://www.humanrights.asia/search?SearchableText=somyot
The text of the open letter follows. The text with photographs of signatories is available on the Prachatai website: http://prachatai.com/english/node/3938
Open Letter on the Third Anniversary of the Imprisonment of SomyotPrueksakasemsuk
On the Occasion of the International Thai Studies Conference, Sydney, Australia, 24 April 2014
SomyotPrueksakasemsuk is a long-time labour rights activist and human rights defender in Thailand. Since 2007, he has been the editor of Voice of Taksin magazine. He was arrested and taken into custody on 30 April 2011, and shortly thereafter charged with two violations of Article 112, which states that “whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years.” In Somyot’s case, the charges were for allegedly allowing two articles with anti-monarchy content to be published in Voice of Taksin magazine. Somyot was held for six months of pre-trial detention, and after beginning in 12 November 2011, the hearings in his trial continued until 3 May 2012. On January 23, 2012, the Criminal Court in Bangkok found Somyot guilty on both charges, and he was sentenced to ten years in prison in this case, as well as to one year in prison in relation to a prior case. At present, Somyot is appealing his verdict. Since he was first arrested and placed behind bars, like the majority of detainees under Article 112, Somyot has been consistently denied bail, despite 15 bail applications being submitted. On 30 April 2014, the third anniversary of his life behind bars, Somyot’s family and supporters will submit a sixteenth application for bail on his behalf.
As Thai and international scholars, journalists, activists and other observers attending gathered in Sydney for the 12th International Thai Studies Conference, we would like to take the opportunity to call attention to the third anniversary of Somyot’s imprisonment and call on the Thai Government to do the following:
1. Grant SomyotPrueksakasemsuk bail while he appeals his case;
2. Grant bail to all prisoners awaiting trial, awaiting decisions, or appealing under Article 112; and
3. Abolish Article 112.
Signed:
Andrew Brown, University of New England
AnusornUnno, Thammasat University
Bencharat Sae Chua, Mahidol University
Bo KyeongSeo, Australian National University
ChalitaBundhuwong, Kasetsart University
Chris Baker
Craig Reynolds, Australian National University
David Streckfuss, Independent Scholar
Eugenie Merieau, National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) Paris
Ian Baird, University of Wisconsin-Madison
JakkritSangkhamanee, Chulalongkorn University
James L. Taylor, University of Adelaide
Karin Zackari, Lund University
Katsuyuki Takahashi, Waseda University
Nick Cheesman, Australian National University
Noah Viernes, Akita International University
Peter Jackson, Australian National University
Peter Vandergeest, York University
Philip Hirsch, University of Sydney
PinkaewLaungaramsri, Chiang Mai University
PongphisootBusbarat, University of Sydney
PreedeeHongsaton, Australian National University
Rachel Harrison, School of Oriental and African Studies
SamakKosem, Chiang Mai University
Simon Creak, Kyoto University
SirijitSunanta, Mahidol University
ThanaviChotpradit
ThongchaiWinichakul, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Thorn Pitidol, Thammasat University
Tyrell Haberkorn, Australian National University
Vanessa Lamb, York University
ViengratNethipo, Chulalongkorn University
WanrugSuwanwattana, Thammasat University
WanwiphangManachotphong, Thammasat University
YuktiMukdawijitra, Thammasat University
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