Dear President Obama,
On behalf of The Network of Family Members and People Affected by the Article 112 (called the 112 Family Network) and other joint organizations, I would like to welcome you to Thailand and would like to hand this letter to you and ask you to support us to raise our concerns to Thai government.
I have hereby attached a letter in Thai to you and have summarized the key points as follows:
1. There are many Thai citizens charged, arrested and detained in prisons after the coup on 19 Sep 2006. Some were arrested and detained because of gathering in the public, speech, publishing the articles which interpreted as insulting/defaming the king or royal families. There were many of them charged under the article 112 (Less Majeste Law) for example: Mr.Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, Dr.Somsak Jiamtherasakul, Mr.Thanthawut Thaweewarodomkul, Lt. commander Chanin Klayklaeng.
2. The article 112 has been widely used to charge Thais because its definition of “insulting’ or defaming” is unclear and ambiguous. This has limited the right to express opinion and suppress Thai under fearfulness and have to self-censor.
3. Thai government ignored the UPR and responded that the charges of Thais under this law are nothing related to Thai politics.
4. At the moment, there are 7 persons charged and detained or imprisoned under the article 112 and computer crime act and about 30 persons detained/imprisoners under the emergency decree. All of them should be considered political prisoners. In addition, they have not been granted bails despite several application submissions to the court.
5. Therefore, I would like to pass our following recommendations to you to raise to Thai government :
5.1 Release all political prisoners that were charged under the article 112, computer crime act and all charges related to the emergency decree.
5.2 Grant bail to all prisoners who are undergoing the trials
5.3 Thai government compensate, rehabilitate all former political prisoners who were charges unfair and end trial with acquittance.
Respectfully your,
Sukanya Prueksakasemsuk, Representative of the 112 Family Network
Mr.Sarawut Patoomraj, Human Rights Advocate/Educator Institute for the Rule of Law and Human Rights
Suda Rangkupan, Representative of the Declaration of street justice
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