Thai Labour Activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Released

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was released on Sunday night, 13 June, from a prison at a Thai army base. He had been imprisoned since 24 May, together with academic Suthachai Yimprasert from Chulalongkom University, after the two presented themselves to police after they heard arrest warrants had been issued for them.

The release of Somyot follows a criminal court’s decision rejecting the government’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation arrest order. Even after that decision, the government held him for another seven days.

Unions and NGOs around the world sent protests to the Thai government over the arrest.  An online appeal by the Clean Clothes Campaign also generated pressure on the government.

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was released on Sunday night, 13 June, from a prison at a Thai army base. He had been imprisoned since 24 May, together with academic Suthachai Yimprasert from Chulalongkom University, after the two presented themselves to police after they heard arrest warrants had been issued for them.

The release of Somyot follows a criminal court’s decision rejecting the government’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation arrest order. Even after that decision, the government held him for another seven days.

Unions and NGOs around the world sent protests to the Thai government over the arrest.  An online appeal by the Clean Clothes Campaign also generated pressure on the government.