Thai PM threatens to use 'all laws' against pro-democracy protesters

 The Guardian, Nov. 19, 2020

The Thai prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has threatened to use “all laws, all articles” to take action against pro-democracy protesters, prompting fears that the kingdom’s harsh lese-majesty law could be used against individuals.

The law shields Thailand’s powerful royal family from criticism with one of the world’s strictest defamation criteria, under which anyone who “defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent” can face up to 15 years on each charge.

Prayuth said earlier this year that it was not being used for the moment, at the request of the king.

Over recent months, however, the authorities have struggled to control a new student-led movement that has held rallies across the country calling for democratic reforms.

Protest leaders have shocked many by demanding that the power of the monarchy should be curbed, and that the institution should be accountable and transparent. They are also calling for the resignation of Prayuth, a former army general who first came to power in the 2014 coup.

 In full: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/19/thai-pm-threatens-to-use-all-laws-against-pro-democracy-protesters

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Communicating food safety in the era of COVID-19 – earning consumer trust

 17/11/2020 Bangkok

Misinformation about the impact the coronavirus is having on the safety of food in the Asia-Pacific region has led to confusion and concern among consumers, and it’s time to set the record straight, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced today.

The spread of COVID-19 has affected supply chains and international trade across the region. But concerns among food safety stakeholders and consumers that COVID-19 might be transmitted through food – messages largely driven by inaccurate and incomplete information – has further fueled the misunderstandings.

In response, FAO and its partners are convening a four-day Regional Food Safety Conference in Asia and the Pacific. The virtual Bangkok-based forum is re-examining many of the claims of alleged COVID-19 tainted food imports to restore confidence and good hygiene in food handling, processing and consumption.

“Across Asia and the Pacific, news on food safety issues frequently hits the headlines and reports of food contamination and foodborne diseases regularly cause alarm among the public and impact local businesses,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative. “The concern among consumers may reflect a lack of confidence in the way food safety is enforced and practiced, and that’s why a forum such as this is important to restore confidence with respect to the coronavirus, but also to recall that, at the same time, good food hygiene is necessary to avoid contracting other quite serious foodborne diseases.”

Food safety experts from across the region are emphasizing the critical importance of pre-requisite food safety programmes such as good hygiene practices and they are underlining the need for a concerted effort to promote food safety standards and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures as well as investments in new technologies and digitalization.  (...)

Consumer trust must be earned – and that calls for investment

Improving food safety standards across the Asia-Pacific region will require greater investment in the infrastructure and technical capacity to assure that all food available in the marketplace is safe for human consumption. As just one example, in many parts of the region, cold storage and appropriate transportation is hard to find, creating a higher risk that the food can become contaminated and cause illness if not cooked thoroughly.  (...)

Working with media to get the story straight

The growth of information technology has had an impact on consumer confidence relating to food safety. Inaccurate news can spread quickly through social and electronic media where lack of accuracy can result in unwarranted fears leading to unnecessary actions, such as the destruction of food, based on hearsay rather than science. This is aggravated by limited expertise in the Asia-Pacific region on risk communication which, if better promoted, could help to ensure that correct information is made available at the right time to prevent misunderstandings among consumers. (...)

Food safety means food security

It is now well-recognized that food security, food safety and nutrition go hand-in-hand, and achieving Zero Hunger within the framework of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is about more than providing adequate food for everyone, it’s also about ensuring safe and nutritious diets for all. (...)

In full: http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1330594/

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Thailand Foreign Business Law Q & A

Nov. 12, 2020

 Thailand Law Firm Library produced Questions and Answers for certain number of questions related Thailand Foreign Business Law.  The questions are as follow:

Q: Is it necessary for a company registered in Thailand to have a majority Thai shareholder (i.e. 51% Thai, 49% foreign)?

Q: What is the definition of a “foreigner”?

Q: Is a company or partnership with a foreign director or managing partner considered to be a “foreigner”?

Q: How many categories of businesses are restricted under the Foreign Business Act of 1999 and who has authority to grant permission to foreigners to operate business in a restricted category?

To find answers to these questions, visit the link below

https://library.siam-legal.com/thailand-foreign-business-law-q-and-a/

 

Thai parliament opens to discuss pro-democracy protests

 SE Globe, Oct. 26, 2020

Thailand’s parliament opened Monday for a special session to discuss the growing youth-led pro-democracy movement, which is demanding Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s resignation and reforms to the ultra-powerful monarchy.

A former military chief who staged the 2014 coup, Prayut has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks by the protesters, who regard his premiership as illegitimate.

Prayut last week recalled parliament — which was in recess — to discuss how to reduce tensions.

“It’s about how to solve the situation of the protesters,” said Tankhun Jittitsara, one of the secretaries of House Speaker Chuan Leekpai.

In full: https://southeastasiaglobe.com/thai-parliament-discuss-pro-democracy-protests/

 

UN experts urge Thai government to allow peaceful protests and release unconditionally those arbitrarily detained

 OHCHR, Oct. 22, 2020

GENEVA (22 October 2020) – UN human rights experts* urged today the Thai government to guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and free speech and called for an end to a crackdown on peaceful protests. 

“The imposition of a state of emergency is the latest in a series of draconian measures aimed at stifling peaceful demonstrations and criminalizing dissenting voices,” the experts said. 

“We urge the Thai government to allow students, human rights defenders and others to protest in a peaceful manner. The Thai people should be allowed to freely speak their mind and share their political views, both online and offline, without prosecution.”  

Thousands of people have joined pro-democracy protests in Bangkok, calling for government and monarchy reforms. Since 13 October 2020, at least 80 individuals have been arrested, of whom 27 remain in detention. Some have been charged under Thailand’s Criminal Code on counts of sedition and holding an “illegal assembly”. Some have also been charged under the Computer Crimes Act for using their social media accounts to call the public to participate in the rallies. Two face lifetime jail sentences for allegedly using violence against the monarchy.

In full: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26408&LangID=E

More than 20 Thai protesters arrested as emergency decree put into place

 SE Globe, Oct. 15, 2020

The Thai government has declared a state of emergency, banning all large gatherings of protestors, following a pro-democracy rally the previous day in which a royal motorcade was met by activists offering the three-finger salute

Thai police arrested more than 20 people under sweeping new emergency measures Thursday, with pro-democracy activists reporting a handful of high-profile leaders were among those detained.

The arrests came after thousands gathered in Bangkok, including on the route of a royal motorcade, with many raising a defiant three-fingers.

The salute, borrowed from the Hunger Games books and films, has been harnessed by the youth-led movement as a symbol calling for democratic changes.

Some protesters have also demanded reforms to the kingdom’s monarchy — a once-taboo issue because of stringent royal defamation laws.

 

In full: https://southeastasiaglobe.com/20-thai-protesters-arrested/

Protesters gather ahead of pro-democracy rally in tense Bangkok

 SE Globe, Oct. 14, 2020

More than a thousand protesters gathered in Bangkok ahead of a pro-democracy rally on Wednesday, with tensions high in Thailand after the arrest of 21 pro-reform activists a day earlier.

The activists are part of a movement that has organised rallies since July, calling for an overhaul of the government and the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha. Some have also demanded reforms to the unassailable monarchy.

Anon Numpa — a prominent activist and one of the key figures demanding royal reform — urged the people gathering at the capital’s Democracy Monument to remain calm and respectful, with the motorcade carrying the King and Queen scheduled to pass by in the afternoon.

Read full article

 

Thailand's Human Rights Commission in 'Crisis' After Latest Resignations

By VOA
August 12, 2019

BANGKOK — 
The legitimacy of Thailand's National Human Rights Commission has been cast in doubt following the recent resignation of two more members who claimed they could not perform their duties because of a pro-government bias within the group.

The move cast doubt on the commission's chances of regaining certain privileges with the United Nations and could complicate the new government's efforts to prove its democratic credentials after a tainted election in March that returned the leaders of a 2014 coup to power.
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Nowhere to hide

hen Romchalee “Yammy” Sombulrattankul performed her first song after joining Thai political protest band Faiyen years ago, she knew she was taking a risk. Yet at the time, she didn’t realise that her public activism would end up costing her not only her freedom, but possibly her life. But now, speaking from an undisclosed location in hiding, the reality of her situation is viscerally clear. At any moment, she says, she could disappear – hunted down and killed for her decision to speak out against the junta that seized control of her country in 2014.