The report, covering 159 countries, was launched globally yesterday with AI Thailand director Piyanut Kotsan presenting the report with a perspective on the Kingdom.

Piyanut said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had continued as junta chief to use extra-judicial powers granted to him under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter. Last March, Prayut used the power to grant policing powers to military officers allowing them to arbitrarily detain individuals for up to seven days.

Civilians allegedly violating the lese majeste law or threatening national security had also been tried in military courts until Prayut issued an order rescinding the action in September. However, as the order was not retroactive, defendants continue to remain under military jurisdiction, the report said.

Expressing concern over the lack of freedom of expression, the report said several individuals had been charged with offences under Criminal Code Article 112, or lese majeste law, and denied bail. The junta’s ban on political gathering of more than four people also continued to be enforced, as political figures and student activists were prosecuted.

While amendments to the Computer Crime Bill last December allowed continued surveillance without prior judicial authorisation, Piyanut said the authorities were also considering increased online surveillance of Internet traffic, notably via the in-progress cybercrime draft bill.

She said the prosecution and harassment of human rights defenders was also still occurring. For instance, rights lawyer Sirikan Charoensiri has been charged with multiple offences, including sedition, for her legal work in assisting pro-democracy student activists. Andy Hall, a rights activist for migrant labour, had also been convicted in September for contributing to a report on labour rights violations by a fruit company.

She said while armed conflict in the southernmost provinces persisted, the use of torture against individuals suspected of links to insurgents also continued in addition to ill-treatment by security forces in routine law-enforcement operations.

The report also found that refugees faced discrimination, notably a lack of formal recognition that would ensure their status as asylum-seekers.