The treatment of Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak—and up until yesterday, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul—along with five others in pre-trial detention for violating Thailand’s draconian lèse majesté law, has raised alarms among human rights groups, partially because Penguin is in deteriorating health due to an ongoing hunger strike. As their applications for bail have been repeatedly denied by the Court, it has become clear that the lives of activists have become secondary to the social norm of remaining completely silent on the sensitive topic of monarchical reform.
Thailand’s own community of non-governmental organisations is on alert as the country’s military-backed government takes steps to follow suit with its Cambodian counterpart. The Thai Cabinet in February approved a draft law that would bring to heel the country’s non-governmental organisations by requiring them to register under a new set of guidelines established by the Interior Ministry.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen repeatedly lashed out at opponents last week in an attempt to respond to critics or potential rivals that could upend him in a coup d’etat.
In December, Thailand’s military junta lifted the ban on political activities in the country– including as gatherings of over five people–ending some of the most draconian assembly laws in Southeast Asia.
