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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
Free Somyot
Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime — Clean Clothes Campaign http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/2012/09/05/free-somyot-freedom-of-s...
1 of 3 4/22/2016 9:23 AM
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This appeal is now closed
This letter will be submit by TLC and other organizations in Thailand to Thai Authorities  before
Sept 19, 2012.
Open letter : Call for the release of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk !
Your Excellency,
We are writing to you in connection with the continued detention of  Somyot Prueksakasemsuk whose case will be
heard again on the 19  September 2012 and who can face the maximum penalty of 30 years’  imprisonment.  He
has been in pre-trial detention for more than a  year since the arrest by officials from the Department of Special 
Investigation in April 2011.
We believe the denial of bail is part of an ongoing pattern of  harassment and intimidation of human rights
defenders in Thailand.  We ask the Thai judicial authorities to ensure that the rights of  Somyot Prueksakasemsuk
are upheld during his detention and that he  is accorded his right to a fair trial, including the right to bail.
We respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on  the Right and Responsibility of Individuals,
Groups and Organs of  Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights  and Fundamental
Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General  Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy
of the  activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of  association and calls on States to ensure that
they can carry out  their activities without fear of reprisals.
We ask you to ensure that Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is released.  Failing his immediate and unconditional
release, we ask that Somyot  Prueksakasemsuk be granted his right to bail, in accordance with  fair trial standards
under domestic and international law;
Human rights defenders in Thailand, especially those working on  freedom of expression, are able to carry out
their legitimate human  rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all  restrictions, including judicial
harassment.
Yours Sincerely,
Filed under: freedom of speech Thailand Somyot
Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime — Clean Clothes Campaign http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/2012/09/05/free-somyot-freedom-of-s...
2 of 3 4/22/2016 9:23 AM
Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime — Clean Clothes Campaign http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/2012/09/05/free-somyot-freedom-of-s...
3 of 3 4/22/2016 9:23 AM


Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime

https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4519&amp;context=globaldocs

Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime

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