Statement on His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
On the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Human Rights Watch extends its sincere condolences to the people of Thailand.
Thailand has faced a deepening human rights crisis since the May 2014 military coup. The ruling National Council for Peace and Order, led by Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, has banned political activity and peaceful public gatherings; criminalized freedom of expression; made hundreds of arbitrary arrests; and held detainees in incommunicado military detention without safeguards against abuses. Military courts are regularly used to try civilians, particularly political dissidents and alleged offenders of the lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) laws. In southern border provinces, rights abuses continue unabated in the conflict between separatist groups and security forces. Over 3 million migrant workers from Burma, Cambodia and Laos face systematic abuse and exploitation, and in some cases, human trafficking. Asylum seekers, including ethnic Uighurs from China, are subject to arrest and deportation.