Tailandia - Thailand’s lèse majesté laws used to harass labour activist (2012)

On 30 April, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested former International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) Projects Coordinator and labour rights activist Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk on charges of violating Thailand’s lèse majesté law. Somyot is also a leader of the 24 June for Democracy Group, and the managing director of ’Voice of Thaksin’. According to a complaint filed with the DSI by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), Somyot violated Section 112 of the Criminal Code by publishing statements in his magazine that could be deemed an insult to the monarchy and a threat to national security.