Islamuddin Sajid
17 February 2022•Update: 17 February 2022
ANKARA
Thai royalists on Thursday stepped up their campaign against Amnesty International, delivering a petition to the Interior Ministry that calls for expelling the watchdog from the country.
According to footages aired and local media reports, a small group of protesters gathered opposite Government House in Bangkok, and submitted the petition they say is backed by more than a million signatures.
Spearheaded by Seksakol Atthawong, a deputy minister, royalist groups launched the campaign last year after Amnesty criticized prosecution of monarchy reform activists. They accused it of threatening national security and interfering in the country's internal affairs.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had responded by ordering an investigation into the NGO.
In a statement on Wednesday, the organization said it is committed to "continuing to promote and protect human rights for people" in Thailand, despite calls for it to be expelled, and is open to answer any questions the Thai government may have about its work.
“While we recognize that the Royal Thai Government has a duty to protect public order and national security, we continue to highlight that authorities must do so in a manner that is in accordance with international human rights law, and that is proportionate, necessary and fulfills the government’s obligations to ensure and facilitate respect for human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the statement said.
It said the campaign comes at a time when authorities are trying to pass a controversial law regulating non-profit organizations in the country, which "could have severe consequences for all civil society in Thailand."
