Thai Student group sues prime minister for misuse of laws resulting in civil liberty violations


ByJames Wilson November 27, 2020


A student group is suing the Prime Minister for misuse of the state emergency at the Bangkok Civil Court on Friday.

The student group said that they are suing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on the grounds that the imposition of the Severe State of Emergency Decree was unwarrted and led to the violation of people’s rights and liberty.

The group said the decree resulted in the misuse of force and led to a crackdown on protesters of October 16 at Pathumwan intersection – an operation carried out by security forces which violated international norms.

“We are suing the government because we want the Sever State of Emergency to be fully removed because just withdrawing it does not mean it is fully removed”, said Sugreeya Wannayuwut, one of six students that is suing the Prime Minister.

“The excessive use of the Severe State of Emergency has resulted in the violation of people’s rights, violation of their body, their freedom of expression, and freedom of public assembly.”

The Severe State of Emergency in Bangkok was announced on October 15 by Prayut Chan-ocha citing security concerns. It was later withdrawn on October 22.