<p>UN human rights experts&nbsp;urged today (22 October)&nbsp;the Thai government to guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and free speech and called for an end to a crackdown on peaceful protests.</p>

<p>The Thai police&#39;s use of water cannons to disperse protesters on&nbsp;16 October was unwarranted and excessive, says Amnesty International, who calls on the Thai authorities to release peaceful protesters and lift restriction on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police in full riot gear have used water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters gathered at the Pathumwan intersection, defying the ban on mass gatherings imposed during the severe state of emergency.</p>

<p>After police dispersed the protest at Government House earlier this morning (15 October), over 20 protesters, including several protest leaders, have been arrested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following a request from Prachatai for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to disclose information concerning the investigation into the cases of the victims of the Red Shirt protest crackdowns, the Official Information Commission has ordered the DSI to disclose the information.</p>

<p>A group of volunteer actors staged a play in memory of the 99 people killed during the crackdowns on red shirt protests in 2010 during the anti-government protest on Saturday (19 September), now said to be one of the largest protests in Thailand since 2014.</p>

<p>On the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, our organizations call on the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to adequately investigate all cases of enforced disappearances in their respective countries, determine the fate or whereabouts of the victims, and ensure the victims&rsquo; families have effective access to justice and receive adequate reparations.</p>

<p>On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the student activist group Spring Movement and Amnesty International Thailand organized the &ldquo;Separation/(Silence)&rdquo; exhibition at the 14 October Memorial in memory of victims of enforced disappearances in Thailand.</p>

<p>The Myanmar government must determine the fate or whereabouts of scores of Rohingya who remain missing nearly four years after the beginning of Myanmar government security forces&rsquo; &ldquo;clearance operations&rdquo; in northern Rakhine State, <a href="https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/burma/un-body-petitioned-over-enforced-disappearance-of-rohingya-in-rakhine">FIDH</a> and its member organizations Odhikar and ALTSEAN-Burma urged today (27 August).</p>

<p>Despite attempts at intervention at all levels by state agents, student-led protests against dictatorship have continued nationwide for a second consecutive week.</p>

<p>The binary thinking that places violent and nonviolent protests at opposite ends of a spectrum limits the possibilities of protest, according to a Chulalongkorn University political scientist, many movements have used both approaches simultaneously, although they may bear different political costs. While comparing red shirt and student protests, she suggested future protesters use a broad-based approach to attract broader support in bringing change.</p>

<p>As Thai netizens joined in using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter to show their support, the movement has sparked discussions of the injustices taking place in this country.&nbsp;</p>