Protesters, the TLHR said, had recently been brought to face prosecution whether they had spoken for or against the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Examples included the peaceful march by the People Go network that called for an end to the NCPO’s sweeping powers, and 39 activists known as the “MBK 39”, who held an assembly calling for the long-postponed election to be held. The protesters all faced charges of allegedly breaking NCPO order no.3/2015 that prohibits all political gatherings of five or more people. The accused in the two latter cases are also accused of allegedly breaking the public assembly act that prohibits public gatherings within a 150-metre radius of royal palaces. “We urge the Thai authorities to respect people who practice their civil and political rights, and agree that such rights are essential and practicable in a democratic regime,” it said.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 06, 2018 07:41 UTC