A letter to the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court: Unjust political persecution of Thai human rights defender and Sakharov fellow Ms. Pimsiri “Mook” Petchnamrob
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Ms. Pimsiri is a Sakharov fellow, a Thai human rights defender, and a pro-democracy activist with more than 15 years of experience advancing civil and political rights, including LGBTQ+ equality. She has contributed to Thai and regional pro-democracy movements, served in leadership roles within civil society, and participated in the Sakharov Fellowship in 2018. Despite mounting risks, she continues to engage in peaceful activism to expand civic space and protect fundamental freedoms in Thailand and the broader region.
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We are gravely concerned that Ms. Pimsiri is on criminal trial in Black Case No. Aor. 498/2567, facing multiple charges—including Section 112 (lèse-majesté), a crime punishable by three to fifteen years’ imprisonment—for a peaceful speech she delivered at a pro-democracy rally in November 2020. Disturbingly, the Section 112 charge is linked, inter alia, to her quoting the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression of Thailand in criticizing Thailand’s lèse-majesté law—a law that has been used to silence hundreds of political dissidents. For peacefully calling for democratic reforms, including reform of the Thai monarchy.
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We call on the authorities to cease the prosecution and judicial harassment of Ms. Pimsiri Petchnamrob, and of all other Thai prisoners of thought currently behind bars for peacefully voicing dissenting opinions. In particular, we urge the judge in Black Case No. 498/2567 to acquit her of all charges. Freedom of thought and conscience are the fountain from which other fundamental freedoms spring; in their absence, truth is suppressed, debate withers, and democratic progress stalls. Whether it was Sakharov in 1980, Mandela in 1964, or Ms. Pimsiri in 2025, people with diverse thoughts on how citizens should live and how humanity should progress must not be silenced.
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Read the full letter here: https://t.co/DgE8QViuVa
🧵A detailed timeline on escalations in the lead-up to yesterday's clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.
Much of the escalation seems to stem from Cambodia, with their troops fortifying many sectors before the May 28 clashes and surging strategic assets immediately after.
🗺️ - heatmap of Cambodian military developments prior to July 24th.
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Since pro-democracy protests emerged in 2020, Thailand's draconian royal defamation law has been wielded in several cases concerning political expression, often with disproportionate penalties and with verdicts that far exceed the boundaries of protecting freedom of expression.
Prachatai has collected data on the following 12 cases of royal defamation between 2020 and 2024 that seem egregious and anomalous.
Read more: https://t.co/zzy6xvBmFC
Move Forward Party's Commitment to Addressing Thailand's Myanmar Dilemma
With regards to the evolving Myanmar situation, my team and I are closely monitoring the developments and have prioritized the issue as a top concern. Of particular concern is the recently publicized divergence of views among ASEAN member states on the best approach to address the unfolding situation in Myanmar. In light of this, the Move Forward Party and I would like to reaffirm the following points:
1. Unwavering Commitment to ASEAN Centrality: We believe in ASEAN-centered actions that lead to ASEAN-led political solutions. We firmly reiterate our support for the actions taken within the ASEAN framework, including those by the previous and current Chairs of ASEAN with a view to achieving the goals and objectives established in the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). As one of the founding members of ASEAN, we attach high importance to unity among ASEAN members and to upholding principles of democracy and human rights as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter.
2. Complementarity of Interests of ASEAN and Myanmar's Neighbors: We seek to reinforce the complementarity of interests of ASEAN and Myanmar's neighbors on the situation in Myanmar - a stable, prosperous and economically viable Myanmar as a full-fledged member of ASEAN and the international community. In this regard, we will ensure close coordination and frequent consultation among all parties and key stakeholders on the issue, leading to regional and global peace, security and prosperity.
3. Inclusive Engagement for Stabilization: We firmly believe that engagement is a critical component of reaching a final solution. Any engagement strategy must be inclusive, multi-layered, and appropriate to contribute to the stabilization of Myanmar pursuant to the purposes and principles agreed upon within the framework of ASEAN, including those endorsed by ASEAN Leaders at the 42nd ASEAN Summit. We also support ongoing efforts by the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary-General in finding a diplomatic solution to the situation in Myanmar including through the Secretary-General's good offices.
4. Human Security Focus: Our strategy for Myanmar prioritizes human security considerations, with a strong emphasis on both the humanitarian and economic aspects. Within Thailand, this may involve the establishment of a Humanitarian-Economic Nexus, providing a platform to not only address the immediate humanitarian crisis but also create opportunities for new human capital to meaningfully contribute to the Thai economy. Regionally, we plan to support an initiative to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian assistance is indiscriminate and inclusive.
5. Multi-Dimensional Challenges: Thailand recognizes that the Myanmar dilemma encompasses a wide range of dimensions, including influx of irregular migrants, energy security, telecommunication and online scams, illicit arms trade, transboundary haze, health hazards, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. As part of our comprehensive strategy, the Move Forward Party-led coalition plans to create a Myanmar Inter-Agency Task Force under the purview of the Prime Minister's Office. This task force will coordinate multi-pronged efforts and seek viable solutions to the various aspects of the Myanmar challenges.
#Myanmar #ASEAN
New data from internal #Myanmar military meeting notes and directives, defector interviews, and casualty data shows the SAC much weaker than most analyst claim
@YeMyoHein5's latest for @USIP estimates #Myanmar military has just 70,000 combat troops
https://t.co/ISkDdTnRoj
Press Release Regarding Junta's Air Strikes on Pazigyi village, Kant Balu Township, Sagaing Division.
A detailed list of the fatality is provided in the appendix. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
https://t.co/OQikfzM5l5
Horrendous aerial attack on civilians in Sagaing. There needs to be a global arms embargo and ban on the sale of aviation fuel to the #Myanmar junta now. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar https://t.co/mQqeDWCExF
Diplomats, journalists and international community, have a look at these scenes. Millions of people in Myanmar are participating in #SilentStrike after two years of repression!
Legitimacy lies with the people. #OurCityOurRuleOurWill. Support us and the revolution shall prevail.
Myanmar PDFs need MANPADs to have a fighting chance, says Anthony Davis in part 2 of his piece on the state of violent conflict in Myanmar. https://t.co/L8lh0KKRlO