Nov 19, 2014 | News
Thailand must end immediately the prosecution of civilians in military tribunals and transfer all remaining cases to the civilian courts, said the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today.
On 18 November 2014, the Bangkok Military Tribunal convicted a political broadcaster, Khathawut B., of lese majeste under article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code and Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act, and sentenced him to five years in jail following a plea of guilty. The court barred observers and the public from the proceedings on the ground that they “concerned matters of national security.”
There is no appeal possible under article 61 of the Thai Act for the Organization of the Military Court so long as Thailand remains under Martial Law, which has been in force nationwide since May 22.
“Under international standards, civilians should not be subject to the jurisdiction of military tribunals, particularly where, like in military-ruled Thailand, military tribunals lack the institutional independence from the executive required by international law regarding fair trials. Thus, civilians convicted before such tribunals should have the right to a new trial before a civilian court,” said Wilder Tayler, Secretary General of the ICJ. “This case also highlights another very serious problem with the state of human rights in Thailand: Thailand’s misuse of criminal defamation laws to imprison people exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) extended the jurisdiction of military tribunals over civilians after it took power by a coup d’etat and imposed Martial Law throughout Thailand. Prior to this, civilians had not been subject to military jurisdiction in Thailand for crimes not directly involving the military for decades, including during the state of emergency in place in southern Thailand since 2004.
Among crimes now within the jurisdiction of military tribunals in Thailand is lese majeste – criminalizing the making of statements that could be construed as defaming or insulting the Thai Monarchy. Such broad restrictions violate the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a state party.
Since the coup, at least 69 civilians have faced prosecution before military tribunals in Thailand on charges ranging from breaching NCPO orders, to planning a terrorist act and lese majeste.
Under article 14 of the ICCPR, everyone has the right to a “fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.” The imposition of Martial Law, and the State’s suspension of some of its obligations under the ICCPR, including the right to appeal guaranteed by article 14(5) for cases heard by military tribunals, does not affect the applicability of this provision.
“All prosecutions of civilians before military tribunals must be transferred to civilian courts immediately, if Thailand is to comply with its international obligations,” said Tayler. “There is absolutely no excuse or justification for the use of military tribunals to prosecute civilians in Thailand, and especially not for simply exercising the right to freedom of expression.”
The Draft Principles Governing the Administration of Justice through Military Tribunals, set out principles that apply to state use of military tribunals.
Principle 5 states “Military courts should, in principle, have no jurisdiction to try civilians. In all circumstances, the State shall ensure that civilians accused of a criminal offence of any nature are tried by civilian courts.”
Further, Principle 2 states “Military tribunals must in all circumstances apply standards and procedures internationally recognized as guarantees of a fair trial.” Military tribunals must in all circumstances respect the principles of international law relating to a fair trial, even in times of crisis.
Thailand-military courts-news-press release-2014-THAI (full text, PDF)
Nov 19, 2014 | Articles, Événements, Nouvelles, Publications, Rapports
Le 18 novembre, la CIJ a présenté, dans le cadre d’une réunion et d’une discussion au Parlement européen de Brucelles, deux nouveaux rapports sur les régimes économiques spéciaux et leur impact sur les droits sociaux au Maroc et au Pérou.
Les deux études se penchent notamment sur de l’impact des régimes économiques spéciaux sur les droits à la terre et à l’eau et sur la sécurité sociale et de l’emploi.
Ces régimes ont pour but de faciliter les exportations et les investissements dans des domaines comme l’agriculture et le textile.
Morocco-Droits sociaux et regimes speciaux-Publications-thematic report-2014-FRE (Rapport sur le Maroc en français – PDF)
Contacts:
Carlos Lopez, Senior Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3816, carlos.lopez(a)icj.org
Sandra Ratjen, Senior Legal Advisor, Economic, Social and cultural Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3835, sandra.ratjen(a)icj.org
Nov 19, 2014 | Artículos, Eventos, Noticias
El 18 de noviembre, la CIJ presentó y discutió, en una reunión en el Parlamento Europeo en Bruselas, sus dos informes sobre regímenes económicos especiales y su impacto en los derechos sociales en Perú y Marruecos.
El eurodiputado Richard Howitt, miembro de la Subcomisión de Derechos Humanos del Parlamento, y el comisario de la CIJ, Olivier De Schutter, encabezaron las discusiones.
Los informes ponen de relieve el impacto en los derechos, incluidos los derechos laborales y sociales, los derechos de tierras y aguas, de regímenes económicos especiales que tienen por objeto facilitar las exportaciones y las inversiones en áreas como la agricultura y los textiles.
La reunión permitió examinar el papel que la UE y sus Estados miembros pueden y deben desempeñar en su diálogo general y cooperación con los dos países, en particular en lo que se refiere a las relaciones y acuerdos comerciales, así como a la reglamentación de las empresas comerciales de la UE que se benefician de estos Regímenes especiales.
La presentación de las investigaciones y los informes de la CIJ viene en un momento importante en las relaciones de la UE con Perú y Marruecos.
En cuanto a estos últimos, el informe de la CIJ alimentará el diálogo sobre derechos humanos entre la Subcomisión de Derechos Humanos del Parlamento Europeo y Marruecos que se celebra hoy en Bruselas.
Peru-Regimenes especiales exportacion-Publications-thematic report-2014-SPA (Full report in Spanish – PDF)
Contactos:
Carlos Lopez, Senior Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3816, carlos.lopez(a)icj.org
Sandra Ratjen, Senior Legal Advisor, Economic, Social and cultural Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3835, sandra.ratjen(a)icj.org
Nov 19, 2014 | Events, News
On 18 November, the ICJ presented and discussed, in a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, its two reports on special economic regimes and their impact on social rights in Peru and Morocco.
MEP Richard Howitt, Member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the Parliament, and ICJ Commissioner Olivier De Schutter led the discussions.
The reports highlight the impact on rights, including labour and social security, land and water rights, of special economic regimes that aim at facilitating exports and investment in areas such as agriculture and textile.
The meeting enabled discussion of the role that the EU and its member states can and should play in its general dialogue and cooperation with the two countries, particularly in regard to trade relationships and agreements and also the regulation of the EU based business enterprises benefiting from these special regimes.
The presentation of the ICJ research and reports comes at an important moment in the relationships of the EU with both Peru and Morocco.
As to the latter, the ICJ report will feed into the Human Rights dialogue between the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament and Morocco that is taking place today in Brussels.
Reports:
Peru-Social Rights for Export Promotion-Publications-thematic report-2014-ENG (Full report in English – PDF)
Peru-Regimenes especiales exportacion-Publications-thematic report-2014-SPA (Full report in Spanish – PDF)
Morocco-Droits sociaux et regimes speciaux-Publications-thematic report-2014-FRE (Full Report in French – PDF)
Contacts:
Carlos Lopez, Senior Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3816, carlos.lopez(a)icj.org
Sandra Ratjen, Senior Legal Advisor, Economic, Social and cultural Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3835, sandra.ratjen(a)icj.org
Nov 15, 2014 | Artículos, Noticias
La Comisión Internacional de Juristas, a través de su representante para Suramérica, Federico Andreu-Guzmán, intervino como perito en el procedimiento interamericano, a solicitud de los representantes de las víctimas.
El 14 de noviembre, la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos condenó al Estado colombiano por la desaparición forzada de 11 personas, la desaparición forzada y ejecución extrajudicial de un magistrado auxiliar de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, la detención arbitraria y tortura de 4 personas, entre otras graves violaciones de los derechos humanos cometidas por miembros de las Fuerzas Militares y de la Policía durante la operación de “retoma” del Palacio de Justicia, el 6 y 7 de noviembre de 1985, a raíz de la incursión de un comando de la guerrilla M-19 en las instalaciones judiciales.
El peritaje de la CIJ versó sobre el marco legal, estructura y funcionamiento de las fuerzas de seguridad para la época de los hechos y la intervención de la justicia penal militar en la investigación y juzgamiento de delitos que no son de función y/o que podrían constituir violaciones a los derechos humanos.
En su Sentencia, la Corte ordenó al Estado colombiano llevar a cabo “las investigaciones amplias, sistemáticas y minuciosas que sean necesarias para establecer la verdad de los hechos, así como de determinar, juzgar y, en su caso, sancionar a todos los responsables” de las desapariciones forzadas, ejecución extrajudicial y torturas; realizar “todos los esfuerzos para determinar el paradero de las once víctimas aún desaparecidas a la mayor brevedad”; “realizar un acto público de reconocimiento de responsabilidad internacional por los hechos”; y brindar reparación integral.
Aunque han pasado 29 años desde la ocurrencia de los hechos, la Sentencia constituye una importante y valiosa contribución a la lucha contra la impunidad y a la reivindicación de los derechos a la justicia, verdad y reparación de los familiares de las víctimas, quienes por décadas buscaron infructuosamente justicia en Colombia.
La CIJ exhorta a las autoridades colombianas a acatar la Sentencia de la Corte y a cumplir sin dilación alguna con lo ordenado en ella.
Nota:
Sentencia de 14 de noviembre de 2014, Caso Rodríguez Vera y otros (Desaparecidos del Palacio de Justicia) Vs. Colombia, Serie C No. 287, disponible en: http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_287_esp.pdf
