Dear ___________,
THAILAND: Demand for release from jail of man sentenced to ten years for lese majesty
Detainee: Suwicha Takor, 34, solids control engineer, married with three children
Convicted at: Criminal Court, Bangkok
Convicted under: Criminal Code, section 112, read with sections 33, 83, 91, and with articles 8 & 9 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand BE 2550 (2007); Computer Crime Act BE 2550 (2007), sections 14(2) & 16(1)
Convicted on: 3 April 2009
Sentence: 20 years’ imprisonment, reduced to 10 because of guilty plea
I am writing to strongly protest the imprisonment of Suwicha Takor on charges of lese-majesty and computer crimes and to call for his immediate release and the amendment of the criminal law in Thailand so as to cease violating the freedom of expression of the country’s citizens and residents.
It has been widely reported that on 3 April 2009 the Criminal Court in Bangkok sentenced Suwicha to 10 years’ imprisonment for posting images on the Internet in 2008 that were allegedly offensive to members of the royal family. He was convicted of lese-majesty and also with having wrongfully used a computer under the provisions of law listed above. He was convicted on two charges carrying 10 years’ imprisonment but the sentence was halved because he pleaded guilty.
I am also aware that after the police arrested Suwicha on 14 January 2009 at his home area of Nakhon Phanom in the northeast of Thailand and took him by air to Bangkok, he was kept in jail as the court twice refused submissions for bail.
Thailand has become infamous in recent times for the bringing of charges of lese-majesty and charges under the Computer Crime Act 2007 against persons who have done no more than exercise their freedom of expression. Despite the current prime minister’s claims to be concerned for the freedom of expression and human rights in Thailand, the case of Suwicha is yet another example of a trend in the opposite direction. I note that another recent case of special concern is the raid on independent news service Prachatai and arrest of its director, Chiranuch Premchaiporn.
I call for the government of Thailand to take the necessary steps to see Suwicha Takor released from prison without delay. I also call for the dropping of all charges against Chiranuch Premchaiporn. Furthermore, I strongly urge the government of Thailand to demonstrate its prime minister’s stated commitment to human rights and freedom of expression to at once put forward bills to amend the Criminal Code and revoke the Computer Crime Act (which was passed by a legislature of military appointees, not elected representatives of the people of Thailand) so that no further cases of this sort occur in the future and so that the country’s human rights reputation does not continue to slide downwards.
I look forward to your intervention.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva
Prime Minister
c/o Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Fax: +66 2 288 4000 ext. 4025
Tel: +66 2 288 4000
E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th or abhisit@abhisit.org
2. Mr. Peeraphan Saleeratwipak
Minister of Justice
Office of the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice Building
22nd Floor Software Park Building,
Chaeng Wattana Road
Pakkred, Nonthaburi 11120
THAILAND
Fax: +662 502 6699/ 6734 / 6884
Tel: +662 502 6776/ 8223
E-mail: om@moj.go.th
3. Mr. Kasit Piromya
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affair
443 Sri Ayudhya Road
Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
Fax: +662 643 5318
Tel: +662 643 5333
E-mail: om@mof.go.th
4. Mr. Chaikasem Nitisiri
Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Lukmuang Building, Nahuppei Road
Prabraromrachawang, Pranakorn,
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Fax: +662 224 0162/ 1448/ 221 0858
Tel: +662 224 1563/ 222 8121-30
E-mail: ag@ago.go.th or oag@ago.go.th
5. Prof. Saneh Chamarik
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
Office of The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty the King’s 80th BirthDay Anniversary 5th December, B.E.2550 (2007)
120 Chaengwattana Road
Laksi District
Bangkok 10210
THAILAND
Fax: +662 143 9576
Tel: +662 141 3800, +662 141 3900
E-mail: interhr@nhrc.or.th or saneh@nhrc.or.th
6. Chairperson
Subcommittee on Legislation and Administration of Justice
Office of The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty the King’s 80th BirthDay Anniversary 5th December, B.E.2550 (2007)
120 Chaengwattana Road
Laksi District
Bangkok 10210
THAILAND
Fax: +662 143 9576
Tel: +662 141 3800, +662 141 3900
E-mail: interhr@nhrc.or.th
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
