Thailand: Judicial harassment of Sitanan Satsaksit

The Observatory has been informed about the judicial harassment of Ms. Sitanan Satsaksit, a human rights activist who has been seeking truth and justice for the enforced disappearance of her brother, pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit. On June 4, 2020, Mr. Satsaksit was abducted by a group of unidentified men in front of a condominium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he resided after fleeing Thailand following the 2014 military coup. The Cambodian authorities have failed to conduct a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into Mr. Wanchalearm’s enforced disappearance, while the Thai authorities have failed to fully support his family in seeking justice for the activist. Mr. Wanchalearm’s fate and whereabouts remain unknown to date.

On October 25, 2021, the Thai police submitted a criminal referral to the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok requesting the prosecution of Sitanan Satsaksit for allegedly violating the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations (Emergency Decree). The charges are related to Sitanan Satsaksit’s participation in a protest in central Bangkok on September 5, 2021, during which Ms. Sitanan gave a speech about her brother’s enforced disappearance. On the same day, the prosecutor postponed the decision on Sitanan Satsaksit’s indictment to November 1, 2021.

The Observatory recalls that the Emergency Decree provides the legal basis for a series of restrictive measures aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19, including the prohibition of public assemblies as well as the dissemination of online information that is “false” or capable of instigating fear among the public (Article 9). Moreover, violations of measures under the Emergency Decree carry penalties of up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 40,000 Baht (approximately 1,025 Euros). The Observatory further recalls that the Emergency Decree has been used to arrest dozens of pro-democracy activists for participating in peaceful protests calling for the reform of the Thai monarchy.

The Observatory condemns the judicial harassment of Sitanan Satsaksit,which seems to be only aimed at punishing her for her legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally put an end to the harassment against Sitanan Satsaksitand all other human rights defenders in the country, and to guarantee in all circumstances the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the country.