Scholars call for review of lese majeste
More than 100 scholars from across the globe have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra calling on the new government to thoroughly review the lese majeste law and Computer Crimes Act.
In the letter, released last week, scholars express concern about "the diminution of the space for the free exchange of ideas in Thailand". They say people detained under the laws are political prisoners.
"Since April-May 2010, we watched essential freedoms constricted, with a number of new arrests and charges brought under Article 112 of the Criminal Code and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act," the statement says, referring to the lese majeste law, which comes under Article 112.
"We welcome your acknowledgement of the seriousness of abuses connected to Article 112. However, we note with concern that while cases of prominent figures may be covered by the media there are many cases where government and media have been silent. Many individuals appear to be in pre-charge detention and others have been charged and refused bail while awaiting trial. In addition, we are concerned to note that charges under these laws have continued to be filed in the past few weeks."
The signatories were particularly concerned about cases that were "explicitly political" such as that of Red Power editor Somyos Preuksakasem-suk, who was detained for 84 days before formal charges were filed recently.
"In this case, much like in the case against Prachatai webmaster Ms Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Mr Somyos is being prosecuted not for anything he said or did himself, but on the basis of someone else's writing in a publication he edited.
"In the case of US citizen Joe Gordon, he too was held for 84 days before the recent filing of formal charges. The Criminal Court has repeatedly denied bail requests for Mr Somyos and Mr Gordon."
The letter concludes that the detention and intimidation of other citizens, "is symptomatic of a broader set of practices which threaten human rights and the future of democracy in Thailand".
They also urged Yingluck to initiate procedures that would grant bail to those now held under Article 112 and the Computer Crimes Act, "so they are able to adequately prepare legal defences" and to establish "mechanisms that eliminate political abuse of these laws".
Signatories include world-renowned scholars such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology Prof Noam Chomsky, as well as experts on Thai studies such as Dr Rachel Harrison of the School of Oriental and African Studies in the UK; and Michael Herzfeld, a professor of anthropology at Harvard and Nick Farrelly at Australian National University.
