Thailand’s Military Hands Jurisdiction of Lese Majeste Cases and other Offences Back to Civilian Courts

Citing peace and clam as well as smooth national referendum on the charter, he ordered to grant full right to national citizens in accordance with the rule of law, human right principle and the new charter, which would come into force soon.

Under the article 44 of the provisional charters, crimes concerning security matters taking place from Monday on ward would be prosecuted in the court of justice, the order says.

However cases that are pending, or currently in progress, will still be under the jurisdiction of the military courts,” junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.

This decision is just window dressing ahead of Thailand’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in front of the U.N. Human Rights Council later this month,” said Sunai Phasuk, Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“This decision is to show the UPR panel that the junta has made attempts to address the human rights concerns expressed earlier this year,” he told Reuters.

Thailand defended its human rights record in front of the Human Rights Council in May this year after some member states noted what they saw as a deteriorating rights situation.