In Thailand, nearly 300 minors have been charged with taking part in large-scale protests to demand more democracy. Amnesty International reports this on Wednesday. The human rights organization also expresses concern about the “serious consequences for their future”.
Among the minors, 17 are charged with lèse-majesté, which in Thailand carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Most of the minors charged are on trial for violating the measures around public gatherings, which were originally intended to contain the corona pandemic.
The youngest person organized during the 2020 protests is eleven years old. The NGO is therefore concerned about the use of violence against children and the intimidation techniques used by the police, such as putting pressure on their parents. “Children who have their whole lives ahead of them are now facing severe repercussions for participating in peaceful protests,” said Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, Amnesty International’s Thailand expert.
At the height of the protest movement in 2020, tens of thousands of people took part in student-led protests demanding the resignation of current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha and reform of the monarchy. As a result of the corona pandemic, the protests were forced to fade into the background.