KHON KAEN – The Campaign Committee to Amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code (CCAA 112), the first aggressive, nationwide campaign to reform the world’s harshest lèse-majesté law, made its way to Khon Kaen this past Sunday with a panel discussion and petition-signing held at Khon Kaen University (KKU). Over 100 signatories gathered in the Kwan Mor Hotel to endorse the amendment drafted by the small group of Thammasat Law lecturers know as the Nitirat group.

Palparan’s Prosecution Key to Ending Impunity

(New York, February 1, 2012) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino III should order the armed forces to cooperate with civilian authorities in arresting retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and others charged with the enforced disappearance of two activists in 2006, Human Rights Watch said today. Since the Justice Department filed charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in December 2011, Palparan and one co-accused, Sgt. Rizal Hilario, have evaded capture, while the other two have been transferred to military custody.

Thai society is facing a major test in the way it handles the stark ideological differences on what to do with the controversial lese-majeste law.

According to the recent media reports stating that National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) supports the amendment to Section 112 of the Penal Code, the NHRCT wishes to announce the inaccuracy of the said reports. The NHRCT sees that Section 112 serves to protect the prestige of the monarchy as Head of State in the same way as protection accorded to other Head of Foreign States as specified in section 133 of the Penal Code and the international principles of the State to protect its monarchy. Therefore, the previous media reports were false and inaccurate.