{"id":3437,"date":"2020-10-22T22:38:31","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T14:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crcasia.org\/?p=3437"},"modified":"2020-10-22T22:38:31","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T14:38:31","slug":"forum-asia-joint-statement-in-solidarity-with-thailands-peaceful-democracy-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crcasia.org\/forum-asia-joint-statement-in-solidarity-with-thailands-peaceful-democracy-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"[FORUM-ASIA Joint Statement] In solidarity with Thailand\u2019s peaceful democracy movement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

(Jakarta, 22 October 2020) \u2012 We, 60 organisations across Asia, stand in solidarity with the peaceful democracy movement in Thailand as it continues to push for fundamental freedoms and democratic reforms, in the midst of government repression.<\/p>\n

The Government of Thailand should abide by its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect and protect the people\u2019s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.<\/p>\n

We assert that the \u2018State of Severe Emergency,\u2019 announced on 15 October 2020 violated international human rights standards and failed to meet the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

We condemn the use of the \u2018national security\u2019 narrative to block these peaceful protests, as well as the attempts to portray the movement and its leaders as a threat to national security and to the stability of the nation.<\/p>\n

We further condemn the use of police violence, including the use of water cannons on 16 October 2020 against peaceful protesters, which included high school and university students.[2]<\/a> \u00a0This fails to meet OHCHR\u2019s guidance which states that water cannons are advisable for use only for situations of serious public order where there is a significant likelihood of loss of life, serious injury, or the widespread destruction of property.\u2019[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

The continuous arrests and the use of judicial harassment against human rights defenders are unjustifiable and serve no other purpose than to instill fear and to promote reprisals against the movement. The arrested protesters and its leaders should be immediately and unconditionally released<\/p>\n

We likewise condemn the use of intimidation and reprisals against social media users who have \u2019checked-in\u2019 at protests sites, taken selfies, or posted about the protests on social media. On 19 October 2020, the Minister of Digital Information announced that they will investigate more than 300,000 URLs of social media accounts that have allegedly violated the Emergency Decree.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

We are also gravely concerned about efforts to have media organizations Prachatai, the Standard, The Reporters, and Voice TV investigated for their reporting of the protests, as well as efforts to prevent them from reporting these events.[5]<\/a> The role of journalism remains ever crucial in these times, and the government has the obligation to protect media freedom and independence. The right to access information is integral in the fulfillment of the people\u2019s right to freedom of expression.<\/p>\n

We recognize that these tactics are also being used by other governments in the region to stifle social movements. These tactics violate international human rights standards and have no role in any fair and just society.<\/p>\n

We call on the Government of Thailand to commit to the respect and protection of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. We urge the government to:<\/p>\n