<p>The Thai office of Amnesty International over the past few months has increasingly turned to tackle more domestic human rights issues. An interview with the Country Director reveals that this decision has had a great impact, even threatening the organization&rsquo;s existence, and including death threats against Amnesty personnel.</p>

<p>An escalation of symbolic actions by pro-democracy protesters took place after the repeated use of force against protesters by the police and legal charges against its leading figures. But when it comes to burning portraits of the King, the state uses the royal defamation law to handle the problem.</p>

<p>A year after the disappearance of Thai activist <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/category/wanchalearm-satsaksit">Wanchalearm Satsaksit</a>, his family still waits for justice while official investigations seem to have stalled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following reports of visits to detained student activists Parit Chiwarak and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, and reports that&nbsp;Parit has been on a hunger strike to demand the right to temporary release or the right to bail since 15 March 2021, and his health has become so frail that he is pale and blood was found in his stools, Amnesty International calls for the Thai authorities to release and drop charges against the activists.</p>

<p>Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch concern over the bail denial of the 4 prominent activists as&nbsp;an abuse of the judicial process to silence peaceful critics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Human rights activists, legal experts and politicians are demanding laws to protect citizens from enforced disappearance while calling on the Thai and Cambodian governments to show responsibility for the disappearance of Thai dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksit.</p>