Thailand: Far-reaching emergency law enacted

On 15 July, following attacks in Southern Thailand, the Prime Minister enacted a new Emergency Decree and declared a state of emergency a few days later in three southern provinces. In a new report, “More power, less accountability: Thailand’s new emergency decree”, the ICJ raised concerns regarding far-reaching and vaguely defined powers that suspend rights, the lack of parliamentary and judicial oversight, the immunity for those abusing powers, the lack of remedies for people detained and the restrictions on freedom of expression. The UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) also expressed concern when it reviewed Thailand’s periodic report days after the Decree was enacted.

Emergency Decree ICJ Report HRC Conclusions