July 9, 2015 Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha Prime Minister Royal Thai Government Bangkok, Thailand RE: Drop Charges against Phuketwan Journalists Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Dear Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, We write to you as international and regional organizations working to protect the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the media to [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 22 June 2015) – The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) of Thailand should drop all charges against the seven student activists from Dao Din, a group of law students from Khon Kaen University, that were arrested on 22 May 2015. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a Bangkok-based [ Read more ]

29th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Maina Kiai, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, David Kaye Oral Statement Delivered [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 21 May 2015) – Today marks 100 days since the murder of Chai Bunthonglek – a land rights defender and member of the Southern Peasant’s Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Khlong Sai Pattana Community, Surat Thani Province. Despite several calls from civil society groups to conduct a comprehensive investigation, Thailand’s probe into the case [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 3 April 2015) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expressed serious concern over the introduction of a new security order invoked under Article 44 of Thailand’s interim constitution, following the revocation of martial law in the country. Article 44 legitimises the power of the head of National Council for Peace [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 25 March 2015) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned by the Draft Public Assembly Act (Draft Act) regulating public gatherings, including demonstrations that require prior notification. The Draft Act, which was proposed on 26 February 2015, is expected to be passed by the military junta-appointed National Legislative [ Read more ]

28th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement Delivered by Pornpen Khongkachonkiet on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 17 March 2015 Mr President, FORUM-ASIA expresses concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in a number of Asian countries. We draw this Council’s attention to the increasing [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 12 March 2015) – On the 11th Anniversary of the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit, a prominent human rights lawyer and former chair of the Muslim Attorney Centre, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly reiterates its call for the government of Thailand to bring the perpetrators responsible for Somchai Neelapaijit’s disappearance [ Read more ]

  Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha Office of the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister Office Government House, 1 Pissanulok Road Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand Facsimile: +66 (0) 2282 5131 Re: Killing of Mr. Chai Bunthonglek in Khlong Sai Pattana, Surat Thani, Thailand Your Excellency, We, the undersigned civil society organisations, express our grave concerns over the lack [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 23 February 2015) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned by the Thai Criminal Court’s verdict today on ‘The Wolf Bride’ case under lèse majesté law (Article 112 under the Criminal Code) that concluded with the conviction and sentencing of two theatre activists to two and half years [ Read more ]