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General Prayut Chan-Ocha Prime Minister of Thailand Government House Pitsanulok Road, Dusit Bangkok 10300 Thailand

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General Prayut Chan-Ocha Prime Minister of Thailand Government House Pitsanulok Road, Dusit Bangkok 10300 Thailand General Prayut Chan-ocha Prime Minister of Thailand Government House Pitsanulok Road, Dusit Bangkok 10300 Thailand August 3, 2017 Re: Release peaceful student-activist Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa Your Excellency: I write again on behalf of the Scholars at Risk Network to express concern over the continued imprisonment of Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, a Khon Kaen University law student and activist, based on non-violent expressive activity. We respectfully ask you to urge the appropriate authorities to ensure Mr. Boonpattararaksa’s unconditional release. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 500 universities and colleges in 37 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of thought, opinion, expression, association and travel. In cases like that of Mr. Boonpattararaksa, involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, Scholars at Risk intervenes in hopes of clarifying and resolving matters favorably. SAR last wrote on February 16, 2017, in regards to Mr. Boonpattararaksa’s detention and the subsequent denial of his application for bail. We understand that on February 10, 2017, Mr. Boonpattararaksa was formally indicted on charges of lèse majesté and violation of Article 14 of the 2007 Computer Crime Act, which criminalizes the “importation of illegal computer content.” The charges are reportedly connected to a widely circulated BBC Thai article about King Rama X which he posted to Facebook on December 2, 2016. We further understand that Mr. Boonspattararaksa’s application for bail has now been denied ten times, most recently on June 30, 2017, and that his imprisonment prevents him from sitting a training course taught by the Lawyers’ Council Under Royal Patronage required of all law graduates. We welcome any additional information that may explain these events or clarify our understandings. Absent this, the facts as described suggest that Mr. Boonpattararaksa was arrested and detained as a result of nonviolent exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and academic freedom – conduct that is expressly protected under international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is a party. The arrest and detention of a student in connection with such activity raises serious concerns about protection for academic freedom and the higher education space in Thailand. SAR therefore respectfully urges you to direct the appropriate authorities to release and drop any charges against Mr. Boonpattararaksa arising out of the non-violent exercise of the rights to expression, association, or academic freedom; and, pending such relief, ensure that his case proceeds in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial, and detention, in accordance with Thailand’s obligations under international law. We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Robert Quinn Executive Director cc: The Honorable Don Pramudwinai Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Ayudhya Road Bangkok 10400, Thailand Email: [email protected] Fax: +662 643-5320 Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan Khet Pathum Wan Bangkok 10330, Thailand Fax: +662 205-3738 Pol. Sub. Lt. Pongniwat Yuthaphunboripahn Attorney General. The Office of the Attorney General The Government Complex Building B 120 Moo 3 Chaengwattana Road, Thoongsonghong, Laksi Bangkok 10210, Thailand Email: [email protected] Fax: +662 1439-546 The Honorable What Tingsamitr Chairman of National Human Rights Commission The Government Complex Building B 120 Moo 3 Chaengwattana Road Thoongsonghong, Laksi Bangkok 10210, Thailand E-mail: [email protected] Pol. Cap. Withoon Pengbuppha Bang Sao Thong Police Station Bang Sao Thong District Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand Fax: +662 3134-119 Khon Kaen Provincial Court Na Sun Ratchakan Road Nai Muang Muang Khon Kaen Khon Kaen 40000 Thailand Email: [email protected] The Honorable Rex W. Tillerson United States Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Fax: +1 202-647-1579 The Honorable Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Fax: +41 22-917-9220 .
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