Thailand: Authorities must protect human rights defenders Angkhana Neelapaijit and Sunai Phasuk from threats, uphold freedom of expression

We express solidarity with Angkhana and Sunai. We jointly urge Thai authorities to take immediate and effective measures to protect them and all human rights defenders from threats, harassment, and intimidation. Authorities must also investigate and prosecute those responsible for these threats in accordance with the law.

Angkhana is a prominent women human rights defender, chair of the Senate's Human Rights Committee and a former member of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission. She is also a former member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Sunai is a senior researcher on Thailand in Human Rights Watch's Asia division.

What happened

Angkhana and Sunai have been facing online death threats and harassment following their public criticism of the use of loudspeakers to project disturbing sounds toward Cambodian civilians living along the border.

The said incident began on 10 October 2025, when ultranationalist figure Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet used loudspeakers and other equipment to broadcast distressing noises toward Cambodian settlers living in the Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo villages in Sa Kaeo Province. Thailand claims the area to be under its jurisdiction, however, Cambodia disputes such claims.

The broadcasts were carried out nightly and include sounds resembling ghostly howls and aircraft engines. They were reportedly intended to intimidate Cambodian civilians and military personnel stationed near the border. The actions in question represent a serious violation of the Ceasefire Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, which was signed on 28 July 2025.

In response, Angkhana called on the Thai Government to recognize that such actions, which are designed to instill fear or cause psychological distress among civilians—especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly, and the sick—could amount to psychological torture under the UN Convention Against Torture, to which Thailand is a State Party. Her remarks have triggered online hate speech and death threats directed at both her and her family.

Sunai publicly supported Angkhana and echoed her concerns. He was then similarly targeted online. The two activists were both accused online of being unpatriotic and sympathetic to Cambodia.

On 15 October, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, expressed concern over the reported online threats against Angkhana. She called for immediate protection measures to ensure the Senator’s safety.

On 18 October, the two activists submitted a petition to the Thai Police, requesting protection for themselves and their families as well as an urgent investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible. The petition also requested that both the complainants and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) be informed of the investigation outcomes in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

Call to Action

We call on Thai authorities to protect Angkhana Neelapaijit, Sunai Phasuk and all human rights defenders from threats, harassment, and intimidation, both online and offline.

Defenders should be allowed to do their invaluable work and exercise their right to freedom of expression without fear of reprisals. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council and a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Thailand is obligated to uphold this right.

As Thailand’s human rights record is to be reviewed during the 4th Universal Periodic Review cycle in November 2026, it must demonstrate a genuine commitment to human rights by ensuring a safe environment for defenders, holding perpetrators accountable, and aligning its actions with international human rights obligations.

Co-signatories:

1. Asia Democracy Network
2. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
3. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
4. Focus on the Global South
5. Front Line Defenders
6. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
7. International Service for Human Rights
8. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders