economy continued to suffer under Covid-19- the draft as containing prohibitions on related restrictions. operations of NGOs that are too broad and FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY include most of their legitimate and protected activities. If the draft is passed, NGOs would Despite severe restrictions imposed by also be subjected to overly broad reporting authorities on public gatherings, ostensibly to and disclosure requirements and authorities curb the spread of Covid-19, 1,545 protests would be able to exert undue control over took place over the course of the year in funds received by groups from foreign different parts of the country. Calls by entities. Other provisions of concern included protesters included amendments to the disproportionate fines and penalties for non- Constitution, dissolution of parliament, reform profit-organizations that would have a chilling of the monarchy and the release of arbitrarily effect on individuals wishing to organize their detained protest leaders. They also own groups. demanded improvements in the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION government’s handling of the pandemic. Authorities filed multiple charges against Authorities continued to use legislation protest leaders and participants for violating including the Emergency Decree, sedition restrictions on gatherings. and defamation laws, the Computer Crimes Riot police used excessive force during the Act and laws relating to contempt of court protests, indiscriminately firing rubber bullets and insulting the court to unduly restrict the and tear gas canisters at short range towards right to freedom of expression. During the protesters, bystanders and journalists. Many year, criminal and civil proceedings were described being kicked, hit with batons and initiated against at least 1,460 individuals, restrained for hours in tight plastic wrist cuffs, including children and student activists, for both on arrest and while in detention. expressing views perceived to be critical of Authorities often did not disclose where government actions. Protest leaders Parit individuals were detained and delayed their Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Panusaya 1 access to lawyers. Sitijirawattanakul and Panupong Chadnok, Live ammunition was used against along with many others, faced sentences up protesters outside a police station in the to life imprisonment if convicted. The capital, Bangkok, in August. Although police authorities repeatedly arbitrarily detained and denied using live rounds, a 15-year-old-boy denied bail to other government critics. was shot in the neck and left paralyzed for In July, Prime Minister Chan-O-Cha issued a three months before he died. Two other boys, regulation that provided for up to two years’ aged 14 and 16, also suffered gunshot imprisonment for dissemination of “fake injuries.2 news” that “could spread fear and unrest, From August to September, at least 270 and harm national security”. However, in children, including a 12-year-old boy, were August, the Civil Court suspended a charged as a result of their participation in regulation allowing internet censorship and protests. Some of them were prosecuted suspension of media organizations, finding under lèse-majesté or other provisions of the that it excessively restricted rights. Criminal Code, and others under the Authorities threatened Facebook and other Emergency Decree on Public Administration platforms with legal action to force them to in Emergency Situations related to the restrict content perceived to be insulting the Covid-19 response. monarchy. Authorities also blocked access to FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION the website Change.org after it hosted a petition signed by more than 130,000 people In December, the government approved a calling for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be draft Act on the Operations of Not-for-Profit declared persona non grata in Germany. Organizations. Civil society groups criticized Amnesty International Report 2021/22 363