Dear all friends and comrades,

Warn greetings!

We wish to convey our deepest thanks to all of you who had supported the online petition and also submitted the letter to Thai authorities and embassy in last 14 Sept 2012 to call for release of Somyot.

The letter signed by 97 [98] organisations / 8035 People- worldwide was submitted by Thailand labour and trade unions in Thailand to Thai authorities on the 14 sept 2012 [1].

Six INGOs had issued an open letter to call for release of Somyot [2].

In addition, there were series of public forum and protest organized by the pro democracy groups inside Thailand before the court hearing of Somyot on 19 Sept 2012.

However, a day before the 19 Sept 2012, the Criminal Court of Thailand canceled the court hearing without any reason was given and no date was given for the coming court hearing.

10 Oct 2012, the Thailand Constitutional Court ruled that the controversial Section 112 of the Penal Code, better known as the lèse majesté law, is not contradictory with human rights protections of the country’s constitution, including on freedom of expression.

The Court ruled on two petitions submitted the Criminal Court from the arguments of Somyos Preuksakasemsuk and Ekachai Hongkangwan, who are both undergoing separate trials under Section 112. Ekachai is realased on bail, but Somyos remains in detention despite 11 requests for release on bail.

Read the news here that explain about the detail of the ruling and how it will affect the coming verdict that will be announced by the Criminal Court on Somyot; case and freedom of expression in Thailand [3].

The Constitutional Court has published its rulings on lese majeste defendants’ petitions on whether or not the lese majeste law is in violation of the constitution [4].

 Lese majeste “constitutional”

The result of t this very bias judgment from royalist constitutional court of Thailand. We are fear that the judgment will not be favorable to Somyot , other political prisoners of LML and affect the freedom of expression in Thailand [5].

We also expect the court hearing on Somyot to announce his verdict will be happened soon. The criminal court will use this judgment of constitutional court in determine of the case of Somyot.

Comrades, please keep ready to continuously lend your support, we will not give up and continue press for the release of Somyot and other political prisoners of Lese Majeste Law in Thailand!

Continue spread this online petition to call for release of Somyot [6]

Stay with us for more action to be call upon and update!

Many thanks !

In solidarity

Malaysia Support Group for Democracy in Thailand- in support of Free Somyot Campaign

11 Oct 2012

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 Important update

UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention -theiir opinion on the detention without bail of Somyos Prueksakasemsu

Somyos in “arbitrary detention”

The UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was asked to provide an opinion on the detention without bail of Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, held in jail since his arrest on 30 April 2011, and charged under the lese majeste law.

At its meeting in late August 2012, the Working Group considered his case and has issued an Opinion that will appear in the Group’s annual report. In short, the UN’s Working Group has determined that:

“The deprivation of liberty of Mr Prueksakasemsuk, being in contravention of Articles 19 of the UDHR [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] and 19 (2) of the ICCPR [International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights], is arbitrary, and falls in categories II of the categories applicable to the cases submitted to the Working Group.

As a result of the Opinion rendered, the Working Group requests the Government to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation of Mr Prueksaksemsuk and bring it into conformity with the standards and principles set forth in the ICCPR.

The Working Group believes that, taking into account all circumstances of the case, the adequate remedy would be to release Mr Prueksakasemsuk and accord him and enforceable right to compensation pursuant to Article 9(5) of the ICCPR”.

The full Opinion is available as a PDF [7].

This is good news for Somyos and for all others charged and detained under this draconian and political law that has long been used to lock up opponents, limit free speech and intimidate citizens. Whether the Opinion will see any action from the Yingluck Shinawatra government is doubtful, however, as this government has adopted a political strategy that means it is timid and cowed before the conservative royalist elite. [8].

Similar news:

Thailand’s arbitrary detention

 [9]

Letter from a political prisoner of Lese Majeste Law:

“We think the same”: A Letter from Thanthawut

Mon, 15/10/2012 - 18:19 | by prachatai

Tyrell Haberkorn

Thanthawut Taweewarodomkul (also known as “Num” and “Num Red Non”) is a 40-year-old father currently serving a 13-year sentence for alleged violations of Article 112 and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act. In September 2012, he withdrew his appeal petition as part of the process of applying for a pardon. Shortly thereafter, he wrote this letter to his lawyer, Anon Numpa, who then posted it on the website of the Ratsadornprasong Legal Institute. Thanthawut’s recognition that those who are imprisoned are no different than those people who remain outside is an urgent and important one.

http://prachatai.com/english/node/3404

The Thai Alliance for Human Rights

After updating the cases of lese majeste and related “crimes” at PPT, it seems relevant to point out a new venture by two of the accused. The Thai Alliance for Human Rights has been formed in San Francisco in the U.S. and is to be launched on 14 October. The Alliance is an effort launched by several people and includes Anek Chaichana and Chupong Thithuan, both accused of lese majeste, in multiple cases.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/the-thai-alliance-for-human-rights/

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