Thailand
29.06.17
Urgent Interventions

Arbitrary detention and subsequent release on bail of pro-democracy activist Mr. Rome Rangsiman

THA 002/ 0617 / OBS 072

Arbitrarydetention / Release on bail /

Judicialharassment /
Travel ban

Thailand

June 29,2017


The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, apartnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Thailand.

Description of the situation:

TheObservatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrarydetention and subsequent release on bail of pro-democracy activist Mr. Rome Rangsiman, Coordinator of the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG)[1]and a former member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM)[2].

Accordingto the information received, on June 25, 2017, Mr. Rome Rangsiman wasarrested at Bangkok City Library, detained at Chanasongkram police station inBangkok, and subsequently taken to Bang Sao Thong police station in SamutPrakan Province. Mr. Rangsiman’s arrest was the result of an arrest warrantissued by the Bangkok Military Court and executed in connection with thealleged violation of Article 61 of the Referendum Act and National Council forPeace and Order (NCPO) Order no. 3/2015 on June 23, 2016. On that day, Mr.Rangsiman distributed flyers that called for a “no” vote in the constitutionalreferendum that was held on August 7, 2016.

Mr.Rangsiman’s arrest occurred a few hours before he was due to speak at an eventcommemorating the 85th anniversary of the ‘1932 Siamese Revolution’[3],entitled “Start Up People: Start Up Talk & Music” and on the eve of thesubmission by the DRG of a petition to the ruling military junta demanding transparencyover a planned Thai-Chinese railway project.

OnJune 26, 2017, the Bangkok Military Court ordered the release of Mr. Rangsimanon a 60,000 THB bail (approximately 1,575 Euros), on condition that he refrainsfrom traveling abroad and participating in political gatherings. These conditionsare inconsistent with Thailand’s obligations under Articles 12 and 21 of theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). As of publishingthis Urgent Appeal, no date had been set up for Mr. Rangsiman’s trial.

TheObservatory recalls that Thai authorities have a long record of judicial harassmentagainst Mr. Rangsiman, who was arbitrarily detained on several occasions[4].

TheObservatory expresses its concern over the arbitrary detention and judicialharassment of Mr. Rangsiman, which only aim at punishing him for his peacefuland legitimate human rights activities, aiming at promoting freedom ofexpression in Thailand.

TheObservatory urges Thai authorities to put an end to any act of harassment,including at the judicial level, against Mr. Rangsiman and to immediately liftall restrictions on his rights to freedom of movement and freedom of peacefulassembly.

Actions requested:

Please writeto the Thai authorities asking them to:

i.Put an end to any kind of harassment - including at the judicial level -against Mr. Rome Rangsiman, as well as all human rights defenders in Thailand;

ii.Guarantee in all circumstances Mr. Rome Rangsiman’s rights to freedom ofmovement and freedom of peaceful assembly by immediately and unconditionallylifting the ban on overseas travel and the participation in politicalgatherings;

iii.Conform to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998,in particular with its Articles 1, 5(a), and 12.2;

iv.Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamentalfreedoms in accordance with international human rights standards andinternational instruments ratified by Thailand.

Addresses:

· Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha,Prime Minister of Thailand, Fax: +66 (0) 2 282 5131

· Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister ofForeign Affairs of Thailand, Fax: +66 (0) 2 643 5320; Email: minister@mfa.go.th

· Mr. Suwaphan Tanyuvardhna, Ministerof Justice of Thailand, Fax: +66 (0) 2 953 0503

· Pol Gen ChaktipChaijinda, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Fax: +66 (0) 2251 5956 / +66 (0) 2 251 8702

· Mr. Wat Tingsamit, Chairpersonof the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, Email: help@nhrc.or.th

· H.E. Mr. ThaniThongphakdi, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UnitedNations in Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: + 41 22 715 10 00 / 10 02;Email: mission.thailand@ties.itu.int

· Embassy of Thailand inBrussels, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 648 30 66; Email: thaibxl@pophost.eunet.be

Pleasealso write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Thailand inyour respective country

***
Paris-Geneva, June 29, 2017


Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appealin your reply.


The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedysituations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT areboth members of
ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human RightsDefenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.


To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

  • Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
  • Tel and fax FIDH: + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
    Tel and fax OMCT: + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / +41 22 809 49 29

[1] DRGadvocates for the restoration of democracy in Thailand and was created byformer NDM members in April 2017.

[2] NDMis an organisation advocating for the restoration of democracy, the end oftrials against civilians before military courts, and the respect of humanrights and freedoms. Mr. Rangsiman was already held for 12 days alongside otherNDM members in July 2016. See Observatory Urgent Appeal THA 002 / 0716 / OBS053.1 published on July 6, 2016.

[3] The ‘1932 Siamese Revolution’put an end to Thailand’s absolute monarchy.

[4] SeeObservatory Urgent Appeals THA 002 /0715 / OBS 055 published on July 2, 2015, THA 002 / 0716 / OBS 053.3published on July 14, 2016 and THA 002 / 0715 / OBS 055.7 published on October28, 2016 on the judicial harassment of journalists and lawyers working with NDMactivists, including Mr. Rangsiman.