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Amnesty International Thailand

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Amnesty International Thailand (AITH), also known as Amnesty Thailand or AI Thailand, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on the protection of human rights in Thailand and worldwide with more than 1,000 members across Thailand.[4][failed verification] Amnesty Thailand is one of more than 70 "sections" that make up Amnesty International worldwide.[5]

Amnesty International Thailand
Founded1993 (registered in 2003)
TypeNGO
PurposeDefense of human rights
HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand
FieldsMedia-attention, direct-appeal campaigns, mobilization, research
Membership (2016)
Approximately 1,000[1]
Official languages
Thai, English
Current Director
Piyanut Kotsan[2]
Current Chairperson
Pornpen Khongkachonkiet[3]
AffiliationsAmnesty International
Websitewww.amnesty.or.th/en/

Amnesty International, as a whole, is an organisation of more than seven million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries,[6] independent of government, corporate, and other interest groups.[7] It works to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on governments that let abuse take place. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.[8]

Amnesty International Thailand was established in 1993 and registered with the Thai government ten years later in 2003 as an association.[9] Its headquarters are in Chatuchak, Bangkok. In 2016, Amnesty International opened its South East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Pathum Wan, Bangkok.

Campaigns

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Amnesty became known to the Thai people during the Thammasat University massacre of 6 October 1976. After the successful campaign, more Thai people started to recognize Amnesty. After that, there were more people supporting Amnesty until the election of the Amnesty Commission in Thailand to attend the international Amnesty conference in 1993. AITH was established formally in Thailand in 2003.

In June 2016, Amnesty International Thailand urged the Thai government to drop all charges against 13 pro-democracy activists and release seven activists who were campaigning to reject the new constitution draft in the incoming constitutional referendum.[10]

Amnesty International Thailand, together with Thai Netizen Network, launched an online petition[11] to rewrite amendments to the Computer-related Crime Act aimed at keeping it in conformance with international laws and standards.[12] According to Amnesty Thailand, the bill would pose threats to civil liberties, privacy, trade secrets, and security of the internet.[13]

Amnesty Thailand presents annual media awards to honour Thai media organisations and professionals who have produced outstanding reporting about human rights, in order to promote freedom of the press and encourage more such stories.[14]

Missions

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The missions of Amnesty Thailand are based on the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[15] Amnesty Thailand campaigns and advocates for:

Organisational structure

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Amnesty International Thailand is composed of members who elect its board members and chair. Each year there is an annual general meeting (AGM) where the future of the organisation and other topics are being discussed and approved by attending members.

As of 2016 Amnesty Thailand includes at least three main task forces:

  • Campaign
    • Policy and Advocacy
    • Activism
    • Media and Communication
  • Growth and Mobilisation
    • Fundraising
    • Membership
  • Administration
    • Finance

Support

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Amnesty Thailand is financially supported by Amnesty International and individual donations from more than 1,000 members across Thailand.[18] The first ever face-to-face fundraising program took place in January 2016 at Victory Monument, Ratchathewi District, and at One Udomsuk community mall, Bang Na District.

Under military rule

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After the military seized power in a 2014 coup d'état, Amnesty International Thailand has deep concern about human rights violations and abuses in the country. The organisation is criticized over being a rival of Prayut Chan-o-cha's government and as to serve Thaksinocracy in order to overthrow the royal family.[19]

In July 2015, a board member of Amnesty International Thailand was charged by the police for protesting against the ruling junta's curbs on civil liberties.[20] According to the police he contravened Article 116 of Thailand's Criminal Code.[21][22]

In November 2016, Amnesty Thailand organized an event to screen the documentary film, "White Shadow, in collaboration with students from Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Khon Kaen University. Despite the local military's permission, the event was barred by faculty's deputy dean because the content was too sensitive for the current situation in the country even though it focused on albinosin Malawi.[23][24]

Under 2017 junta constitution

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In November 2021, Prayut's government started an investigation whether Amnesty International Thailand (AITH) has broken any laws after ultra-royalists called for AITH to be expelled for its support of pro-democracy activists, such as Panusaya (Rung), facing prosecution on royal defamation cases. Under the strict laws against insulting the monarchy, more than 1,600 activists were charged on security laws, including at least 160 people charged with a potential prison term of up to 15 years.[25] Prayut had assigned the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police to look into the matter, meanwhile the yellow-shirts, pro-government groups rallied in front of the Silom Complex in Bangkok to gather up to one million signatures in support of a campaign to expel AITH from Thailand.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "แอมเนสตี้ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล คือใคร?". OK Nation Blog. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Piyanut Kotsan | LinkedIn". Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Thai activists charged over 'military torture' report". BBC. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. ^ "AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THAILAND | Bangkok Post Jobs". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Structure and People". Amnesty International. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Countries". Amnesty International. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Amnesty International Thailand". issuu. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1977". The Nobel Prize. 10 December 1977. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  9. ^ "About us". Amnesty International Thailand (AITH). Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Amnesty International prepares petition in defence of pro-democracy activists". The Nation. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  11. ^ "เครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ตยื่น 40,000 รายชื่อหยุด Single Gateway". Voice TV. 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  12. ^ "ร่างแก้ไขพ.ร.บ.คอมพิวเตอร์ (26 เม.ย. 59) ไทย-อังกฤษ Thailand's Cybercrime Act amendment draft (26 Apr 2016) bilingual". Thai Netizen Network. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  13. ^ Sambandaraksa, Don (7 July 2016). "Thailand's new computer crime bill is a mess". Telecom Asia. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  14. ^ "In recognition of excellence". The Nation. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  15. ^ "The Nation in cooperation with Amnesty International Thailand". The Nation. 10 July 1998.
  16. ^ "จดหมายเปิดผนึกว่าด้วยวิกฤตผู้ลี้ภัยและผู้โยกย้ายถิ่นฐานในภูมิภาคเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Taking injustice personally". www.amnesty.org. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  18. ^ "าสาสมัครระหว่างประเทศเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน Amnesty International Thailand (AI)". OK Nation Blog. 4 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  19. ^ "คอลัมน์...จับได้ไล่ทัน : ขบวนการสิทธิมนุษยชนจอมปลอม สมคบซ่อน แผนบ่อนทำลายเบื้องสูง". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  20. ^ "Thai police charge 14 anti-junta student activists with 'sedition': Lawyer". The Straits Times. Agence France-Presse. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  21. ^ "ประมวลกฎหมายอาญา ❯ มาตรา 116". lawphin.com. Retrieved 8 October 2019.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "High profile Thai human rights defender accused of sedition". Prachatai English. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  23. ^ Darkes, Zac (24 May 2016). "Persons with Albinism". Lawi Link. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Movie about albinos in Africa too sensitive for Khon Kaen University". Isaan Record. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Thailand probes Amnesty International after ultra-royalist complaint". Reuters. 26 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Police investigating Amnesty International". Bangkok Post. 2021.
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