The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS has issued a statement raising concerns about the Thai government's prosecution of activists and journalists. They also called the Thai government to drop charges against activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, end its practice of judicial harassment, and review and repeal its repressive laws.

Three human rights organizations have condemned the conviction of activist Mongkhon Thirakot, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for royal defamation and demand the immediate release of Mongkhon and other detained activists. They also endorsed the call for the repeal of the royal defamation, or lèse-majesté, law.

A new report by the CIVICUS Monitor rates civic space in Thailand as 'repressed,' as the royal defamation law continues to be used to criminalise dissent and spyware has been used against activists. Protesters were also prosecuted and faced excessive force while concerns remain about a restrictive NGO bill. 

<p>Around the launch of its&nbsp;<a href="https://civicus.contentfiles.net/media/assets/file/FOPAGlobalAssessment.December2022.pdf" target="_blank">global report on protests</a>, CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, calls on the Thai government to halt its criminalisation of protesters and drop all charges against them. Further, the government must ensure accountability for violations carried out by the security forces while policing protests.</p>

<p>The conviction of Narin, who was <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9727">sentenced last Friday</a> (4 March 2022) to 3 years in prison on a royal defamation charge for putting a sticker over a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn,&nbsp;demonstrates the government&rsquo;s intensifying targeting of individuals and allies of the pro-democratic movement, said FoRUM-ASIA, CIVICUS, and Asia Democracy Network, who call for the repeal of the royal defamation law and the immediate release of everyone detained under this law.</p>

<p>Under the Chairmanship of Cambodia in 2022, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must meaningfully address the regressive human rights crisis in the region, including the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar, said rights groups at a webinar yesterday (2 December).</p>

<p>As Thailand&rsquo;s human rights record is examined at the Human Rights Council on 11 November 2021, CIVICUS and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) call on UN member states to raise serious concerns about Thailand&rsquo;s civic freedoms.</p>

<p>CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, calls on the Cambodian authorities to drop the baseless charges against trade union activist and human rights defender&nbsp;Rong Chhun and to release him immediately and unconditionally.</p>

<p>Six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, the CIVICUS Monitor has found&nbsp;ongoing and unjustifiable restrictions on the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression across the world, while people continue to mobilise despite these restrictions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Global civil society alliance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/media-releases/4623-cambodia-civicus-calls-on-government-to-release-activists-after-wave-of-arrests">CIVICUS</a>&nbsp;is extremely concerned by an ongoing crackdown on activists in Cambodia over the last month. A chilling wave of arrests marks an escalation of attempts by the authorities to intimidate activists and silence all forms of dissent and highlights the rapid deterioration of human rights in Cambodia.&nbsp;</p>