AMNESTY International has produced a report on human rights
violations in Thailand since the military junta imposed martial law on May 20.
The junta, formally called the National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO), responded by saying Amnesty should “get its facts straight”.
However a ban on gatherings would remain in force “until the political climate
improves”, Winthai said.
According to AMNESTY the following eight activities have
been reportedly banned by the NCPO: - Wearing T-shirts that could ‘promote division’
- Eating sandwiches in public-Amnesty said that “sandwiches became symbolic of peaceful resistance at one point, leading state-run newspapers to warn people against eating sandwiches, and a senior police chief to say they are keeping a close eye on sandwich eaters.”
- Reading certain books - Protestors have reportedly been arrested for reading George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and a screening of the film in Bangkok was cancelled in June by authorities
- Posting anything deemed critical of the military online-“Hundreds of websites have been taken down or blocked,” Amnesty said, ““censorship panels” have been set up to monitor media, and people have been threatened with imprisonment for posting anything deemed critical of the military online.”
- Gatherings of more than five people - “A ban on gatherings of more than five people has been in effect since martial law was imposed, in clear violation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the report stated.
- Raising a “Hunger Games” salute - A three-fingered sign used by protestors became an unofficial symbol of resistance after the coup and bore a strong resemblance to that used in the dystopian Hollywood blockbuster.
- Being labelled “problematic”, or a political activist - “When the military took over, they summoned several hundred people they deemed problematic, and ordered them to report to the authorities,” Amnesty reported.
- Playing a non-approved computer game - Tropico 5, in which players set up their own military dictatorship in a fictional paradise, has been banned.
Source: The Telegraph
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