Proposed letter in support of Somyot – 9 September 2011

Prime Minister Ms Yingluck Shinawatra
Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300 Thailand

Fax: + 662 282 8631/280 1589/629 8213
Tel. + 662 280 1404/3000
Email: charupongpheuthai@gmail.com

Re: Right to bail for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and political prisoners held under the lèse majesté law 

Your Excellency,

We write to ask you to urgently address the matter on right to bail for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk who was charged under lèse-majesté law and imprisoned without bail since 30 April 2011. 

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk is known for his tirelessly work in the workers movement and the establishment of democratic trade unionism in Thailand. In 2007 he became Editor of the Voice of Taksin magazine (now called Red Power), a political publication opposed to military coup. Somyot is the chair of Union of Democratic Labour Alliance and the leader of 24th June democracy group which was formed in the aftermath of military coup September 2006. 

On the 30th April, Somyot was arrested by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) by which he was accused for violation of section 112. 

His four requests for bail have been denied by the court, most recently on the 20th August 2011. 

Somyot was previously arrested in May 2010 and held for 19 days, after the military crackdown which resulted in the deaths of 92 people. He was arrested under Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES). 

Human rights organisations are concerned about Somyot’s treatment. Somyot’s case has also been submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion.  

There is a pre-trial hearing to be held on the 12th September. We call on you to immediately look into the matter concerned for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and other political prisoners held under the lèse-majesté law. We urge you to restore freedom of expression and opinion in Thailand for the benefit of the new democracy in Thailand. Free Somyot and restore freedom to Thailand.

Signature

 

Prime Minister Ms Yingluck Shinawatra
Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300 Thailand

Fax: + 662 282 8631/280 1589/629 8213
Tel. + 662 280 1404/3000
Email: charupongpheuthai@gmail.com

Re: Right to bail for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and political prisoners held under the lèse majesté law 

Your Excellency,

We write to ask you to urgently address the matter on right to bail for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk who was charged under lèse-majesté law and imprisoned without bail since 30 April 2011. 

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk is known for his tirelessly work in the workers movement and the establishment of democratic trade unionism in Thailand. In 2007 he became Editor of the Voice of Taksin magazine (now called Red Power), a political publication opposed to military coup. Somyot is the chair of Union of Democratic Labour Alliance and the leader of 24th June democracy group which was formed in the aftermath of military coup September 2006. 

On the 30th April, Somyot was arrested by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) by which he was accused for violation of section 112. 

His four requests for bail have been denied by the court, most recently on the 20th August 2011. 

Somyot was previously arrested in May 2010 and held for 19 days, after the military crackdown which resulted in the deaths of 92 people. He was arrested under Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES). 

Human rights organisations are concerned about Somyot’s treatment. Somyot’s case has also been submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion.  

There is a pre-trial hearing to be held on the 12th September. We call on you to immediately look into the matter concerned for Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and other political prisoners held under the lèse-majesté law. We urge you to restore freedom of expression and opinion in Thailand for the benefit of the new democracy in Thailand. Free Somyot and restore freedom to Thailand.

Signature