![[Valid RSS]](images/valid-rss-rogers.png "Valid RSS")
This is a valid RSS feed.
This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.
line 41, column 0: (15 occurrences) [help]
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summ ...
</channel>
^
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" xml:base="http://prachataienglish.com/"> <channel> <title>Prachatai English</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/</link> <description/> <language>en</language> <item> <title>Corrections Department has not handed over medical records of activist who died during detention, says lawyer</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10938</link> <description><span>Corrections Department has not handed over medical records of activist who died during detention, says lawyer</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>The Corrections Department has yet to provide the medical records of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a pro-democracy activist who died in pre-trial detention during a hunger strike, claiming that a power of attorney was not done correctly. Netiporn’s lawyer has said the information he has received contradicts the statement made by the Department to the media.</p><p>Following the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10933">activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom</a> on 14 May, lawyer Krissadang Nutcharat of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights told the media on Friday (17 May) that the Corrections Department has not yet complied with the request of his legal team to hand over Netiporn’s medical records and CCTV footage from the Corrections Department earlier in the morning, according to&nbsp; <a href="https://web.facebook.com/photo?fbid=792754506379920&amp;set=a.534942252161148">The Reporters</a>. Krissadang’s team&nbsp; was granted power of attorney by the activist’s older sister,</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGzJfWg6VIM&amp;t=553">Sahakarn Petchnarin</a>, Director-General of the Corrections Department, told the media on the same day that Netiporn’s representative had already obtained the records in the morning. Regarding the CCTV footage, he was concerned about privacy as others also appeared on camera.</p><p>Krissadang said the Director General had previously affirmed to him that a lawyer could make the request, but when Netiporn’s lawyer arrived, a Corrections Department official insisted that the regulations stipulate that only a parent can obtain the records. Krissadang observed that this was suspicious and he would not trust what the Department told the media until he saw the documents himself.</p><p>The lawyer also remarked that the information he received from Tantawan Tuatulanon, an activist who was in the same hospital as Netiporn, was not consistent with the statement given by the Corrections Department to the media. He reiterated that the Corrections Department should be transparent by disclosing all the facts and bringing them to the table for discussion.</p><p>Krissadang expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the Corrections Department, asserting that this is not a legal matter but a person’s life. The lawyer also emphasised that Netiporn’s parents and her lawyer are not seeking legal action against anyone, but merely an answer to the cause of her death.&nbsp;</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 3</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-18T19:55:22+07:00" title="Saturday, 18 May, 2024 - 19:55">Sat, 2024-05-18 - 19:55</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/netiporn-sanesangkhom" hreflang="en">Netiporn Sanesangkhom</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/department-of-corrections" hreflang="en">Department of Corrections</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/krissadang-nutcharat" hreflang="en">Krissadang Nutcharat</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2024 12:55:22 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 3</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10938 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10938#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>State-backed digital violence used to silence women and LGBTI activists, says new report</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10937</link> <description><span>State-backed digital violence used to silence women and LGBTI activists, says new report</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p dir="ltr">Women and LGBTI activists in Thailand are being subjected to an online onslaught of abusive speech laced with misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic language, sexualized content and other forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), Amnesty International said in a new report released yesterday (16 May).</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727197654_783e4b3ddd_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption" dir="ltr">The report "Being Ourselves is Too Dangerous" was released yesterday (17 May).<br>(Photo from Amnesty International Thailand)</p><p dir="ltr">The report,&nbsp;“Being Ourselves is Too Dangerous,” highlights how women and LGBTI activists have been unlawfully targeted with digital surveillance, including Pegasus spyware and online harassment, by state and non-state actors, in an effort to silence them.</p><p dir="ltr">“Thailand has long positioned itself as a champion of gender equality and made various pledges at the international level to protect women’s and LGBTI rights. However, the reality is that women and LGBTI activists in the country continue to face severe gender-based violence facilitated by digital technology,” said Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, Amnesty International Regional Researcher for Thailand.</p><p dir="ltr">Following the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/06/thailand-grim-outlook-human-rights-after-month-martial-law-2/">2014 military coup</a>, activists at the forefront of peaceful protests in Thailand have leveraged digital technology to speak out about human rights amidst the shrinking civic space.</p><p dir="ltr">However, the report shows how this tool is being used to harass them, spread gendered disinformation and channel hateful speech and sexualized content degrading to women and LGBTI people.</p><p dir="ltr">The report is primarily based on in-depth interviews with 40 women and LGBTI activists, including many young activists and those living in the country’s Malay Muslim-majority southern border provinces.</p><h2>Targeted digital surveillance</h2><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727074428_1424efc1a1_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption" dir="ltr">Student activist Niraphorn Onnkhaow, 22, speaking in a video clip screened during the report's launch event.&nbsp;<br>(Photo from Amnesty International Thailand)</p><p dir="ltr">As part of its research, Amnesty International interviewed nine of the 15 women activists confirmed to have been targeted in 2020 and 2021 by Pegasus, the highly invasive spyware developed by Israeli cybertechnology company NSO Group. The report shows this targeted digital surveillance disproportionately impacted women and LGBTI activists, creating a uniquely gendered fear that the breach of their private data could lead to further blackmailing, harassment and discrimination.</p><p dir="ltr">Niraphorn Onnkhaow, a 22-year-old student activist, was shocked when she received an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/04/global-apple-threat-notifications-what-they-mean-and-what-you-can-do/?utm_source=TWITTER-IS&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=13138363882&amp;utm_campaign=Amnesty&amp;utm_term=-No">Apple threat notification</a> informing her that her device might be a target of “[s]tate-sponsored attackers.” In fact, her iPhone was infected with Pegasus spyware 14 times – the highest number among all the targeted individuals in Thailand. Onnkhaow believes this was linked to her participation in the youth-led pro-democracy protest movement that began in 2020.</p><p dir="ltr">“As a woman, having my privacy invaded is frightening. If I have private photos on my phone, they could be leaked to smear my reputation and hurt me to the extent that I’d have to stop my activism,” said Niraphorn. “I believe women and LGBTI activists are being watched, monitored and scrutinized more closely.”</p><p dir="ltr">Technical and circumstantial evidence, combined with the NSO Group’s policy of selling its products exclusively to governments, strongly point to the involvement of one or more Thai state actors in the cases where Pegasus was used. Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission shares the same assessment that a Thai government agency was involved in the use of the spyware.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">Amnesty International also interviewed activists, including LGBTI individuals, who received alerts from Meta that their Facebook accounts were targeted by a “government-backed or sophisticated attacker”.</p><p dir="ltr">Patcharadanai Rawangsub, who identifies as a gay man, was a member of Talu Fah, a pro-democracy group and one of several activists to receive the alert.&nbsp;After learning that his online activities were under surveillance, he feared his private data could be used to prosecute him.</p><p dir="ltr">“Going to prison is my worst nightmare. For gay men and trans women, Thai prisons can be brutal as you will most likely be sexually harassed and assaulted and face discrimination,” he said.</p><h2>Wide-ranging tactics of online harassment</h2><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727066868_538d5c3f49_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption" dir="ltr">Piyanut Kotsan (Photo from Amnesty International Thailand)</p><p dir="ltr">Amnesty International Thailand’s Executive Director Piyanut Kotsan was portrayed as a foreign agent trying to undermine the Thai government in coordinated online campaigns suspected to be initiated or supported by state or state-aligned actors.</p><p dir="ltr">Some activists faced violence in the form of doxing – the revealing of personal or identifying documents or details about someone online without their consent.</p><p dir="ltr">Non-binary youth feminist activist Nitchakarn Rakwongrit told Amnesty International that when they were 17 years old, an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account publicly posted their private information, including their ID card number, and criminal charges that they faced due to their involvement in peaceful protests. The doxing appeared to be aimed at intimidating and discouraging them from continuing their activism.</p><p dir="ltr">Many LGBTI activists in the Muslim community have faced violent online backlash for their activism. In one notable example, three Muslim transgender women activists received threats of violence after giving an online media interview about anti-LGBTI discrimination within their community.</p><p dir="ltr">“The ultimate goal of these attacks is to assassinate the activists’ character, undermine their credibility, delegitimize their role and isolate them from the rest of society. It is a pervasive tactic that sends a clear warning: women and LGBTI activists will be punished if they dare to challenge the status quo,” said Elina Castillo Jiménez, Amnesty International’s Security Lab Researcher on targeted digital surveillance.</p><h2>The silencing of women and LGBTI activists</h2><p dir="ltr">Amnesty International found that digital violence created a chilling effect among many women and LGBTI activists who began self-censoring and, in some cases, disengaging from human rights work altogether. Some activists also suffered serious mental health repercussions, including paranoia, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.</p><p dir="ltr">"We use digital tools [...] to communicate with each other. However, we wouldn't post anything about our activities on social media. It’s too dangerous,” said a Malay Muslim gender-diverse student activist from Pattani province.</p><p dir="ltr">Globally, more than half of women and girls are&nbsp;<a href="https://plan-international.org/publications/free-to-be-online/">reported</a> to have&nbsp;been abused and harassed online. Those facing further marginalization due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression and sex characteristics, and other forms of discrimination, are disproportionately impacted.</p><p dir="ltr">“Digital tools are essential for women, girls and LGBTI people in Thailand and around the world, to facilitate their self-expression, activism and to promote gender justice. But TfGBV makes digital spaces unsafe for them, preventing them from fully speaking out for human rights.” said Shreshtha Das, Amnesty International Gender Advisor/Researcher.</p><p dir="ltr">The Thai government denied any involvement in the targeted digital surveillance and online harassment of women and LGBTI activists, but did not express any willingness to investigate cases highlighted in the research.</p><p dir="ltr">By not taking meaningful steps to protect activists, the Thai government has failed to meet their responsibilities under international human rights treaties to which Thailand is a state party, including guaranteeing the rights to freedom from gender-based violence, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, privacy and an effective remedy.</p><p dir="ltr">“The Thai government must publicly commit to refrain, and protect activists, from the use of targeted digital surveillance and online harassment. It must also investigate all cases of TfGBV against women and LGBTI activists and provide individuals who have been targeted with effective remedy,” said Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong.</p><p dir="ltr">Amnesty International is also calling on Thailand to ban highly invasive spyware and establish a human-rights compliant regulatory system for other types of spyware. Until then, it should enact a global moratorium on the sale, use, export, transfer and support of other forms of spyware.</p><p dir="ltr">NSO Group has also failed to fulfil its human rights responsibilities under international legal standards.</p><p dir="ltr">Amnesty International wrote letters to NSO Group and affiliate entities inquiring about the sale of the Pegasus software used to target nine of the 40 interviewees. None of the companies replied.</p><p dir="ltr">NSO Group must cease the production, sale, transfer, use and support of Pegasus or other similar highly invasive spyware. The company must also provide adequate redress to victims of unlawful targeted surveillance through Pegasus in Thailand.</p><p dir="ltr">“Thailand will never be the haven for gender equality it often claims to be, unless the government and relevant private companies immediately take actions to end TfGBV,” said Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong.&nbsp;</p><h2>Background</h2><p dir="ltr">This report is part of Amnesty International’s global flagship campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/">Protect The Protest</a>&nbsp;which&nbsp;builds on the organization’s existing work on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/thailand-future-government-must-protect-peoples-right-protest">right to protest in Thailand</a>, as well as its work on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2018/03/online-violence-against-women-chapter-1-1/">intersection of gender and technology.</a></p><p dir="ltr">Previously, a report by the Thai NGO iLaw, Digital Reach and The Citizen Lab found Pegasus infections on the phones of 35 individuals between 2020 to 2021. Amnesty International’s Security Lab conducted an independent analysis for five of these.</p><p dir="ltr">Further research on TfGBV is also being carried out in Uganda and Canada as part of the Make It Safe Online campaign and will be launched in the coming months.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-17T14:10:55+07:00" title="Friday, 17 May, 2024 - 14:10">Fri, 2024-05-17 - 14:10</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/pick-to-post" hreflang="en">Pick to Post</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/amnesty-international-thailand" hreflang="en">Amnesty International Thailand</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/digital-right" hreflang="en">digital right</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/online-harassment" hreflang="en">online harassment</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/women-activist" hreflang="en">Women activist</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/discrimination-against-lgbt" hreflang="en">Discrimination against LGBT</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/gender-based-violence" hreflang="en">gender-based violence</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/homophobia" hreflang="en">Homophobia</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/transphobia" hreflang="en">Transphobia</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/lgbtq-activists" hreflang="en">LGBTQ activists</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 07:10:55 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10937 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10937#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Vigils mourn activist’s death, demand release of political prisoners</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10936</link> <description><span>Vigils mourn activist’s death, demand release of political prisoners</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>Following the death of pro-democracy activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, candlelit vigils took place in several provinces in her memory and to demand the release of political prisoners.</p><p>Netiporn was&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10933">pronounced</a> dead at 11.22 on Tuesday (14 May) after suffering a cardiac arrest while she was on a hunger strike to call for judicial system reform and the release of political dissidents.</p><p>The 28-year-old activist had been held in pre-trial detention&nbsp;on a royal defamation charge since her bail was&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10794">revoked</a> on 26 January and had been on a hunger strike since 27 January.</p><p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hospital.tu.ac.th/upload/news/files/2024051413584848.pdf">Thammasat University Hospital statement</a>, Netiporn was administered CPR beginning at 06.23 am at the Corrections Hospital and she was found unconscious and without vital signs upon arrival at Thammasat University Hospital at 9.30 am. CPR was administered continuously for 2 hours before she was pronounced dead.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727162359_de5a1e9f4c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">Activists lit candles during Tuesday night's vigil in front of the South Bangkok Criminal Court. (Photo by Ginger Cat)</p><p>Several vigils took place on Tuesday night in several provinces. At Thammasat University Hospital, Netiporn’s friends and other activists gathered in the parking lot, where they lit candles in front of Netiporn’s picture.</p><p>At 17.00, activists gathered in front of the South Bangkok Criminal Court. They stood holding pictures of Netiporn, lit candles, and displayed a banner calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law and for the release of activists held in pre-trial detention.</p><p>Activist Noppasin Treelayapewat said that Netiporn's friends believe no one should lose their lives to the justice system. He said that although her cause of death has not been determined, Netiporn ultimately died because she was unfairly detained.</p><p>The right to bail is a fundamental right, Noppasin said, and everyone should be entitled to it. Netiporn's friends will keep her in their memory and he hopes that every political prisoner will soon be released.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53722742359_89e41477e6_b.jpg" width="1023" height="682" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">Candles and flowers placed in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court during Tuesday night's vigil. (Photo from iLaw)</p><p>Another gathering took place in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court. Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, a lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), read a statement calling for the release of political prisoners and reform of the judicial system so that it will no longer be used for political gain, as well as for amnesty for everyone prosecuted for political expression, including those charged with royal defamation.</p><p>“Bung often said that she is a child of a judge, but we are here today not because she was the child of a judge. We come to stand here because she was a child of the people … who have rights and freedoms, and there should be noone who is lost because they exercise their rights and freedoms, and to insist that everyone who has not been found guilty must have the right to temporary release,” Poonsuk said.</p><p>Poonsuk noted that one of Netiporn’s demands was for the release of political prisoners, and said that her demands have not been met upon her death as 44 people remain detained on charges relating to political expression.</p><p>She also said that Netiporn is not the first person detained under the royal defamation law to die in prison. 64-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/world/asia/thai-man-jailed-for-insulting-king-dies-in-detention.html">Ampon Tangnoppakul</a> died on 8 May 2012 while detained at the Corrections Hospital. Such an incident should not happen again, Poonsuk said, and there should be no political prisoners in a democratic country with a rule of law.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53719718937_db9617c7eb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="576" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">The vigil at Tha Phae gate, Chiang Mai.</p><p>Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai, local activists and members of the public met at Tha Phae gate, a popular tourist landmark in the old town, for a candlelit vigil.</p><p>“Again a Thai person has to die from an unacceptable political reason,” said Pakawadee Weerapaspong, a writer, activist, and translator, who attended the vigil. “This time it is a young person who should in fact have had a good future.”</p><p>Pakawadee noted that Netiporn was charged with royal defamation for conducting a poll, which should not have been an offense to begin with, and that she had not been found guilty. Now, a life is lost because there is an effort to charge activists with royal defamation and detain them without bail. She hopes that Netiporn will not die in vain, and said that anyone making fun of her death should consider whether they deserve to be a citizen of a civilized country.</p><p>Other gatherings also took place in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Khon Kaen.</p><p>Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that an autopsy was performed on Netiporn’s body this morning (15 May). It will likely take at least a month for an autopsy report to be completed, after which a court inquest will be conducted.</p><p>Netiporn’s funeral will take place between 16 – 18 May, with a cremation ceremony on 19 May. Her family has requested privacy, asking that media attending her funeral stay in a designated zone and not photograph family members.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-17T13:43:15+07:00" title="Friday, 17 May, 2024 - 13:43">Fri, 2024-05-17 - 13:43</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/netiporn-sanesangkhom" hreflang="en">Netiporn Sanesangkhom</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/death-in-custody" hreflang="en">Death in custody</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/hunger-strike" hreflang="en">hunger strike</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/right-to-bail" hreflang="en">right to bail</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/pre-trial-detention" hreflang="en">Pre-trial detention</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 06:43:15 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10936 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10936#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Diplomats, right groups mourn activist’s death in detention</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10935</link> <description><span>Diplomats, right groups mourn activist’s death in detention</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>Diplomats in Thailand have expressed condolences following the death of pro-democracy activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10933">died</a> on Tuesday (14 May) after suffering a cardiac arrest while on a hunger strike to call for judicial system reform and the release of political dissidents. Meanwhile, several human rights organizations have called for an investigation into the circumstances of her death.</p><p>Her bail was&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10794">revoked</a> on 26 January and she had been on a hunger strike since 27 January.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53724867999_a61576a828_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">Candles lit in front of a picture of Netiporn during Tuesday night's vigil in front of the South Bangkok Criminal Court. (Photo by Ginger Cat)</p><p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hospital.tu.ac.th/upload/news/files/2024051413584848.pdf">Thammasat University Hospital statement</a>, Netiporn was administered CPR beginning at 06.23 am at the Corrections Hospital and she was found unconscious and without vital signs upon arrival at Thammasat University Hospital at 9.30 AM. CPR was administered continuously for 2 hours before she was pronounced dead at 11.22 am.</p><p>Following reports of her death, at least 10 ambassadors to Thailand have expressed their condolences on social media, including the ambassadors of <a href="https://twitter.com/ieambthailand/status/1790334733953696195?s=46">Ireland</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hemmerpatrick/status/1790324273174761858?s=46">Luxembourg</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/markgooding/status/1790346941962109327?s=46">the UK</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/sibillecartier/status/1790341778262077851?s=46">Belgium</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/usambthailand/status/1790341458614165640?s=46">the US</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/dkambinthailand/status/1790324395002458412?s=46">Denmark</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/rvanwijngaarden/status/1790316319822561712?s=46">the Netherlands</a>, Finland, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidDalyEU/status/1790313677662654478">European Union</a>.</p><p>German ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GermanAmbTHA/status/1790310655461073121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1790310655461073121%7Ctwgr%5E1b88579aa591136efa02860f1509dc8cc89a580b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fprachatai.com%2Fjournal%2F2024%2F05%2F109198">Ernst Reichel</a> noted in his tweet that Netiporn died “in pre-trial detention without bail, after a prolonged hunger strike,” and wrote that “[his] wish would be that political disagreements are not taken to such bitter and extreme consequences.”</p><p>Finnish ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jarviaho/status/1790315389089710269">Jyri Järviaho</a> wrote that “[his] condolences for the family and friends of political activist Ms ”Bung Thaluwang” who died in pre-trial detention earlier today after a long hunger strike.”</p><p>Meanwhile, the Swedish Embassy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SwedeninTH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1790331835329007989%7Ctwgr%5E1b88579aa591136efa02860f1509dc8cc89a580b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fprachatai.com%2Fjournal%2F2024%2F05%2F109198">official Twitter account</a> posted a message that it is “saddened by the news today that political activist Ms Netiporn Sanesangkhom has passed away after a long hunger strike” and offered condolences to her family and friends.</p><p>Human rights organizations have expressed their condolences and called on the Thai authorities for an investigation into Netiporn’s death. Amnesty International Thailand Director Piyanut Kotsan said that Netiporn’s death is a “shocking reminder that Thai authorities are harshly denying pro-democracy activists their freedom in an apparent bid to silence the peaceful expression of dissent,” noting that many activists and protesters have been denied bail.</p><p>“This tragic incident should serve as a wake-up call to Thai authorities to drop charges against and release all human rights defenders and other people who are unjustly detained,” Piyanut said. She called on the Thai authorities to comply with recommendations from UN human rights experts to protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, drop charges inconsistent with international human rights law, and end arbitrary detention.</p><p>Piyanut also called on the Thai government to “urgently and independently” investigate the circumstances of Netiporn’s death and how it could have been prevented, noting that the authorities must still ensure hunger strikers’ right to life and health under international law.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/forum_asia/status/1790288904194756750">Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)</a> wrote on Twitter that it is “devastated” by Netiporn’s death and promised to continue her fight for justice and democracy. It noted that Netiporn was detained on a royal defamation charge and that her bail requests were repeatedly denied.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/CIVICUSalliance/status/1790293399922200981">CIVICUS</a>, a network of civil society organizations and activists working to strengthen citizen action and civil society, wrote that it is “deeply concerned” by Netiporn’s death in detention and call for the release of all activists detained for royal defamation.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/OHCHRAsia/status/1790373348398272520">UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR)’s Southeast Asia regional office</a> wrote that it is “deeply disturbed by death of Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom who was on hunger strike to demand judicial reform &amp; release of prisoners.”</p><p>“We call for transparent &amp; impartial investigation into her death &amp; care. Freedom of expression&amp;peaceful [sic] assembly are fundamental rights,” the Office wrote on Twitter.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/Irenekhan/status/1790363970634674482">Irene Khan</a>, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion,&nbsp;wrote that she is “saddened &amp; distressed” by Netiporn’s death and called on Thailand to abolish the royal defamation law and end the prosecution of activists exercising freedom of expression.</p><p>45 student organizations and activist groups issued a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=853798420121805&amp;id=100064749637069&amp;mibextid=WC7FNe&amp;rdid=B5zhsaDywreaK584">joint statement</a> condemning the Thai government for judicial harassment and the judicial system's failure. It said that the authorities ignored the rule of law and the basic principle that a person should be seen as innocent until proven guilty, noting that Netiporn was treated as a criminal even if she has not been found guilty. She was detained and had her bail denied without a reasonable cause, violating the fundamental right to bail.</p><p>The organizations call on the Thai government to reform the judicial system and grant amnesty to those prosecuted for political expression, including those charged with royal defamation.</p><p>Netiporn is the second person detained under the royal defamation law to die in custody.&nbsp;The first was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/world/asia/thai-man-jailed-for-insulting-king-dies-in-detention.html">Ampon Tangnoppakul</a>, a 64-year-old man who died on 8 May 2012.</p><p>Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that an autopsy was performed on Netiporn’s body this morning (15 May). It will likely take at least a month for the autopsy report to be completed, after which a court inquest will be conducted.</p><p>Netiporn’s funeral will take place between 16 – 18 May, with a cremation ceremony on 19 May. Her family has requested privacy, asking that media attending her funeral stay in a designated zone and not photograph family members.</p><p>On Tuesday night, several vigils took place in memory of Netiporn. Netiporn’s friends held a vigil at Thammasat University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, while other activists and protesters gathered in front of the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court and the South Bangkok Criminal Court. Gatherings also took place in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Khon Kaen.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-16T18:23:16+07:00" title="Thursday, 16 May, 2024 - 18:23">Thu, 2024-05-16 - 18:23</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/netiporn-sanesangkhom" hreflang="en">Netiporn Sanesangkhom</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/death-in-custody" hreflang="en">Death in custody</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/right-to-bail" hreflang="en">right to bail</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/pre-trial-detention" hreflang="en">Pre-trial detention</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/hunger-strike" hreflang="en">hunger strike</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/royal-defamation" hreflang="en">Royal defamation</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/section-112" hreflang="en">Section 112</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/lese-majeste" hreflang="en">lese majeste</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 11:23:16 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10935 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10935#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Musician faces another royal defamation charge for protest song about monarchy</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10934</link> <description><span>Musician faces another royal defamation charge for protest song about monarchy</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>A musician has been given a suspended sentence of 2 years for royal defamation after singing a song during a protest on 23 August 2022.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/tlhr2014/status/1789987960211058937?s=61&amp;t=0Ri2hWLO7XV1vi9o78jocg">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a> reported that 54-year-old Musician Chokdee “Alex” Rompruk was found guilty under the royal defamation law and the Computer Crime Act after he livestreamed himself while singing a song by Faiyen called “Lucky to Have Thai People,” during the protest in front of the Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon. The content of the song concerns the late King Bhumibol and has nothing to do with the reigning King.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53718691310_5fe47fb429_o.jpg" width="800" height="533" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">Chokdee "Alex" Rompruk</p><p class="picture-and-caption">(Photo by Ginger Cat)</p><p>The indictment stated that Chokdee posted his performance on his public YouTube channel, where the video got over 71,000 views. It also claimed that he sang the song with the intent to defame and disrespect the late King and King Vajiralongkorn. His action was considered as importing false information into a computer system, constituting an offence related to national security.</p><p>Chokdee was sentenced to 3 years for royal defamation and 1 year under the Computer Crime Act. Due to his guilty plea, his sentences were reduced to 1 year and 6 months and to 6 months. TLHR also reported that Chokdee expressed remorse and promised not to engage in such an activity again. He has also contributed to society and has no history of any serious offences before. His sentence&nbsp; was therefore suspended for 2 years and he will be subjected to a 1-year period of probation, during which time he has to report to a probation officer every 3 months and is also required to perform at least 24 hours of community service.</p><p>On 9 May, Chokdee was also&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10929">found guilty</a> of royal defamation for singing songs during another protest on the same day at the Victory Monument. In that case, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, reduced to 4 years due to a guilty plea and suspended for 2 years. He was also subjected to a 1-year probation period and 24 hours of community service.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 3</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-15T18:26:56+07:00" title="Wednesday, 15 May, 2024 - 18:26">Wed, 2024-05-15 - 18:26</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/chokdee-rompruk" hreflang="en">Chokdee Rompruk</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/royal-defamation" hreflang="en">Royal defamation</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/section-112" hreflang="en">Section 112</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/thai-lawyers-for-human-rights-tlhr" hreflang="en">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2024 11:26:56 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 3</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10934 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10934#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Pro-democracy activist dies in detention during hunger strike</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10933</link> <description><span>Pro-democracy activist dies in detention during hunger strike</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>A pro-democracy activist detained on royal defamation charges has been pronounced dead in custody after suffering a cardiac arrest while she was on a&nbsp;hunger strike to call for judicial system reform and the release of political dissidents.</p><p>Several Thai news outlets reported on Tuesday (14 May) that activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, also known as Bung Thaluwang, was transferred from the Corrections Hospital to Thammasat Hospital that morning after suffering a cardiac arrest&nbsp;during a hunger strike calling for judicial reform and no more political dissidents to be imprisoned. A postmortem has been called for.</p><p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hospital.tu.ac.th/upload/news/files/2024051413584848.pdf">Thammasat University Hospital statement</a>, Netiporn was administered CPR beginning at 06.23 am at the Corrections Hospital and she was found unconscious and without vital signs upon arrival at Thammasat University Hospital at 9.30 AM. CPR administered continuously for 2 hours before she was pronounced dead at 11.22 am.</p><p><a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2024/05/109195">Krissadang Nutcharat</a>, a lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), told the media that the initial cause was a heart attack and the actual cause of death will be investigated tomorrow. He said Netiporn previously had physical symptoms such as swelling, abdominal pain and fatigue, as well as insomnia. The medical evaluation suggested that Netiporn was in the process of recovering from the hunger strike as her family requested her to eat. However, she was unable to do so due to the prolonged hunger strike. She was instead given liquid sustenance.</p><p>Netiporn, a 28-year-old activist, began her involvement in political movements with the “Bad Students” group in 2020 before joining the Thaluwang group in 2022. Since attending political activities, she was prosecuted in a total of 7 cases, two of which were under the royal defamation law.</p><p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/66964">TLHR</a>, she was detained twice. The first time was 3 May 2022, when the court revoked her bail after she&nbsp;conducted a public poll on 8 February 2022 at Siam Paragon concerning royal motorcades. This was the first time she went on a hunger strike before being bailed after her 8<sup>th</sup> bail request on 4 August 2022.</p><p>The most recent detention resulted from a charge of contempt of court for an&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10740">incident</a>&nbsp;on 19 October 2023, during which a police officer hit Netiporn with a baton and injured her.&nbsp;On 26 January, she was sentenced to 1 month in prison for the charge. On the same day,&nbsp;the court&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10794">revoked her bail</a> on the royal defamation charge for the incident on 8 February 2022, claiming that she had violated her bail conditions by participating in a protest on 6 August 2023, where she demanded that Senator and poet Naowarat Pongpaiboon be stripped of his status as National Artist after he abstained during the parliamentary vote to choose a Prime Minister.</p><p>Netiporn had been on the hunger strike since 27 January. It was also&nbsp;<a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2024/02/107989">reported</a> that Netiporn faced health conditions since the first month of the hunger strike, but insisted on continuing to push her demands. At the time, Netiporn refused any medical treatment, and she also expressed her intention to donate her body to the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University.</p><p>Netiporn is one of the two detainees charged under the royal defamation law who died during detention. The first one is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/world/asia/thai-man-jailed-for-insulting-king-dies-in-detention.html">Ampon Tangnoppakul</a>, a 64-year-old man who died on 8 May 2012.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 3</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-14T18:41:53+07:00" title="Tuesday, 14 May, 2024 - 18:41">Tue, 2024-05-14 - 18:41</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/netiporn-sanesangkhom" hreflang="en">Netiporn Sanesangkhom</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/royal-defamation" hreflang="en">Royal defamation</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/right-to-bail" hreflang="en">right to bail</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/thai-lawyers-for-human-rights-tlhr" hreflang="en">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 11:41:53 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 3</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10933 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10933#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Cartoon by Stephff: Nose Udom vs Thai conservatives</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10932</link> <description><span>Cartoon by Stephff: Nose Udom vs Thai conservatives</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><h2>Cartoon by Stephff: Nose Udom vs Thai conservatives</h2><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53720269221_dd230b5cf9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="743" loading="lazy"></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-14T15:34:45+07:00" title="Tuesday, 14 May, 2024 - 15:34">Tue, 2024-05-14 - 15:34</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/multimedia-0" hreflang="en">Multimedia</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 08:34:45 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10932 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10932#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Man accused of royal defamation over Facebook post about royal aides executed for King Ananda’s murder</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10931</link> <description><span>Man accused of royal defamation over Facebook post about royal aides executed for King Ananda’s murder</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>A 32-year-old man from Buriram has been accused of royal defamation over a Facebook post about the execution of King Ananda’s secretary and two royal aides convicted for the alleged murder of King Ananda Mahidol.</p><p><a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/66915?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Boi8ptg8SxzjToYItM8GsyGeWZbTfqhzBES-BK6ngzovsa2_DZtfQjkc_aem_ATTZr4XN7UPnsDYLonknmhOZvW2gc3__fzg6UphMRH82giYmvvNtAeGYhJnjx3wKUhNRBPO5vdFLQ_Yo8fErFfNL">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a> reported on Friday (10 May) that Pipat Wisetchompol, 32, was summoned to report to the police in Phatthalung’s Khuan Khanun District after a complaint was filed against him by Songchai Niamhom, leader of the ultra-royalist King Protection Group.</p><p>The inquiry officer at Khuan Khanun Provincial Police Station informed Pipat that he was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for a Facebook post containing a picture of an&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10286">incident</a> on 28 March 2023, in which an activist spray-painted protest symbols onto the wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The post also contained a caption raising questions about accidents and murders and asking “Why did you execute Chit, But, and Chaliao?” alleging that the person responsible is not a good person.</p><p>Chit Singhaseni and But Phattamasarin were two royal aides convicted along with King Ananda’s secretary Chaliao Pathumrot, for being party to the assassination of King Ananda, who was found shot dead in his bedroom in the Grand Palace on 9 June 1946. The three men were sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on 17 February 1955, after their petition for clemency was rejected by King Bhumibol, King Ananda’s younger brother.</p><p>According to the police, Songchai said he was on the way to collect internet fees from his tenants in Khuan Khanun and was looking through his Facebook feed when he remembered a Facebook profile page he has been monitoring because the profile often posts about the monarchy and politics. He then visited the profile and found the post, which he claimed severely defames the late King Bhumibol. He subsequently decided to file a complaint with the police.</p><p>Pipat told TLHR that he has never been to Phatthalung before and does not know Songchai. The trip from Buriram to Phattalung also takes time and money, since he is required to travel by bus from Buriram to Bangkok to board a flight to Songkhla’s Hat Yai district, where he stayed the night before traveling to Khuan Khanun.</p><p>TLHR said that Pipat is the 10th person to be charged with royal defamation after a complaint was filed against them by a member of the King Protection Group. The complaints were filed at several police stations in Phatthalung, Krabi, and Songkhla, while many of the accused do not live in the south of Thailand and are required to spend time and money traveling to attend police and court appointments.</p><p>Songchai has filed royal defamation complaints with the police in Phatthalung and Songkhla against several people over social media posts, including former Move Forward Party MP&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10074">Amarat Chokepamitkul</a>, a 27-year-old named&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10556">Nattapon</a>, an intellectually disabled 19-year-old protester named&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10347">Thiramet</a>, and rapper&nbsp;<a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/10028">Kitti Ruangphunglhuang</a>, also known as P9D. He also filed a <a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/65602">complaint</a> with the police in Bangkok’s Bang Na District against two noodle vendors for putting up a sign calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law and the release of political prisoners, along with a message about the national budget in front of their shop in January 2023.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-14T14:57:06+07:00" title="Tuesday, 14 May, 2024 - 14:57">Tue, 2024-05-14 - 14:57</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/section-112" hreflang="en">Section 112</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/lese-majeste" hreflang="en">lese majeste</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/royal-defamation" hreflang="en">Royal defamation</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/king-ananda-mahidol" hreflang="en">King Ananda Mahidol</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/songchai-niamhom" hreflang="en">Songchai Niamhom</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/king-protection-group" hreflang="en">King Protection Group</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/judicial-harassment" hreflang="en">judicial harassment</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 07:57:06 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10931 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10931#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Khaosan protesters demand release of political prisoners</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10930</link> <description><span>Khaosan protesters demand release of political prisoners</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p class="text-align-right"><span class="more-byline">Photos by Ginger Cat</span></p><p>On Sunday evening (12 May), activists staged a protest near Khaosan Road, one of Bangkok’s famous nightlife districts and tourist landmarks, to demand the release of political prisoners.</p><p>The activists stood for 112 minutes at the roundabout on Ram Buttri Road, part of the Khaosan nightlife district, holding signs calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law and the release of political prisoners. The number 112 refers to the royal defamation law, or Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code.</p><p>Protesters were also holding sunflowers and pictures of detained activists. Khathatorn Dapom, an activist from the Thalugaz group, and two other protesters were wearing PPE suits spray-painted with messages calling for those held in pre-trial detention to be granted bail.</p><p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/63015">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR),</a> some 45 people are now detained on charges relating to political expression. At least 27 are being detained pending trial or appeal. Of these, 18 are detained on a royal defamation charge.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716493014_6f1c77da68_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716587340_bf258a70f5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716364383_9845e80ed5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716153181_284d5e2031_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716364378_5dbfd92a3a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-14T14:02:15+07:00" title="Tuesday, 14 May, 2024 - 14:02">Tue, 2024-05-14 - 14:02</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/political-prisoners" hreflang="en">political prisoners</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/pre-trial-detention" hreflang="en">Pre-trial detention</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/right-to-bail" hreflang="en">right to bail</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/arbitrary-detention" hreflang="en">arbitrary detention</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 07:02:15 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10930 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10930#comments</comments> </item><item> <title>Musician, citizen reporter convicted of royal defamation for singing a song about the monarchy</title> <link>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10929</link> <description><span>Musician, citizen reporter convicted of royal defamation for singing a song about the monarchy</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field-item"><p>Musician Chokdee “Alex” Rompruk and citizen reporter Waranya “Nui” Sae-ngo have been found guilty of royal defamation and given a suspended prison sentence of 4 years for singing two songs by the protest band Faiyen during a protest on 23 August 2022.</p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53708458137_70d8c307e9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy"><p class="picture-and-caption">Chokdee "Alex" Rompruk (second from left) and Waranya "Nui" Sae-ngo (third from left) with their supporters at the Criminal Court on 9 May. (Photo by Ginger Cat)</p><p>Waranya was <a href="https://prachataienglish.com/node/9992">arrested</a> on 1 September 2022 and charged for singing two songs by Faiyen called “Lucky to have Thai People” and “Who killed King Rama 8?”, both of which are critical of the monarchy. She was also charged for livestreaming herself singing.</p><p>Chokdee reported to the police on 3 March 2022 after being contacted by the police and told that he was being charged because he was playing guitar while Waranya was singing.</p><p>The complaint against them was filed by Akkhrawut Kraisisombat, a member of the ultra-royalist group Vocational Students Protecting the Institution.</p><p><a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/66899">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a> said on Thursday (9 May) that the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court found Chokdee and Waranya guilty of royal defamation. It also found Waranya guilty of violation of the Computer Crimes Act.</p><p>Chokdee and Waranya were sentenced to 6 years in prison, reduced to 4 years because they confessed. The Court then suspended their sentence for 2 years on the grounds that they expressed remorse and promised not to defame the monarchy again. It noted that the two defendants were not protest leaders, are both working, and have a permanent residence, and took into consideration their family responsibilities and health issues.</p><p>Chokdee and Waranya will be subjected to a 1-year probation period, during which they have to report to a probation officer every 3 months. They are also required to perform at least 24 hours of community service.</p><p>Chokdee is facing another royal defamation charge for singing at another protest on 23 August 2022. Waranya is facing another royal defamation charge for livestreaming while activists conducted a poll on royal motorcades at the Siam Paragon shopping mall on 8 February 2022.</p></div> <span><span>eng editor 1</span></span><span><time datetime="2024-05-13T13:55:45+07:00" title="Monday, 13 May, 2024 - 13:55">Mon, 2024-05-13 - 13:55</time></span><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/news" hreflang="en">News</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --><div class="node-taxonomy-container"> <ul class="taxonomy-terms"> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/section-112" hreflang="en">Section 112</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/royal-defamation" hreflang="en">Royal defamation</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/lese-majeste" hreflang="en">lese majeste</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/citizen-journalist" hreflang="en">Citizen journalist</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/faiyen" hreflang="en">Faiyen</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/chokdee-rompruk" hreflang="en">Chokdee Rompruk</a></li> <li class="taxonomy-term"><a href="http://prachataienglish.com/category/waranya-sae-ngo" hreflang="en">Waranya Sae-ngo</a></li> </ul></div> <!--/.node-taxonomy-container --></description> <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2024 06:55:45 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>eng editor 1</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">10929 at http://prachataienglish.com</guid> <comments>http://prachataienglish.com/node/10929#comments</comments> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
Download the "valid RSS" banner.
Upload the image to your own server. (This step is important. Please do not link directly to the image on this server.)
Add this HTML to your page (change the image src attribute if necessary):
If you would like to create a text link instead, here is the URL you can use:
