2016: Thailand: Somyot Prueksakasemsuk
Prime minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha
Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit
Bangkok 10300
Thailand
Your Excellency,
PEN International and The Norwegian Writers in Prison Committee is deeply concerned by the harsh sentence handed down to prominent activist and editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a state party.
We demand that Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is given immediate access to reading material and is permitted to partake in recreational activities.
We express our serious concern for Somyot Prueksakasemsuk‘s well-being and urging authorities to provide him with adequate medical treatment while detained and to ensure that he is protected from ill-treatment.
We are deeply concerned about the continued use of lèse majesté laws to criminalise free expression, and urging an amendment to Article 112 of the Penal Code in order to ensure that it meets Thailand’s international obligations to protect freedom of expression.
Yours sincerely,
Øivind Hånes
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY: The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
