On 19 September the Thai Criminal Court will announce the date of the verdict of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, well known editor and long time labour rights activist in Thailand. He can face 30 years in prison.
We need your voice again, so let it be loud!
CCC continues to call upon the Thai authorities to drop all charges against Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and all other human rights defenders detained through the lèse majesté laws. We ask that as a minimum, Somyot will be released on bail.
Somyot was arrested more than a year ago, in April 2011. Thai authorities claim that two publications in his magazine Voice of Thaksin ’offended’ the country’s king. He was accused of lèse majesté, a crime that carries up to 30 years of imprisonment. Somyot has been forced to await his trial in an overpopulated and unhealthy prison for over seventeen months now and has been refused bail eight times.
CCC is working with human right organisations to influence governments of other EU countries to reach out to the Thai government. We also ask that all human rights defenders in Thailand are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of restrictions, including judicial harassment.
Tell the Thai Prime Minister: Release Somyot now! Freedom of speech is not a crime.
We ask you to send this letter to the Thai Prime Minister. Your signatures will be spread out widely, so the Thai government will have to listen!
For more information and regular updates from the trial, please go to: www.freesomyot.wordpress.com
Please take action and sign this petition to the Thai Prime Minister
This letter will be submit by TLC and other organizations in Thailand to Thai Authorities before Sept 19, 2012.
https://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent-actions/somyot-trial