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AI In-brief 26 Sept 20:04

Ex-MP Ekkarat’s U-turn lets Bhumjaithai off hook in Senate probe

Former MP Ekkarat Changlao dramatically retracted his testimony just days before a verdict, initially accusing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Bhumjaithai Party figures of electoral fraud in a Senate vote-rigging investigation.
His U-turn, where he claimed to have made allegations under pressure from rivals, prompted the Election Commission (EC) to drop charges against top Bhumjaithai executives, citing Ekkarat's unreliability as a witness.
The EC's decision ignited public outrage and criticism, with opponents pointing to phone records that supported Ekkarat's initial claims and watchdogs suggesting political influence in the EC's ruling.
Ekkarat's own credibility is compromised by a history of legal issues, including a recent lifetime ban from contesting elections and a 12-year prison sentence for embezzling over 400 million baht from a teachers’ cooperative.

AI In-brief Today 18:03

A coalition of Thai civil society groups urges the government to implement human rights recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) with clear timelines and dedicated budgets.
Thailand received 297 recommendations from 106 UN member states, with 31 specifically addressing freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the protection of human rights defenders, including calls to amend Section 112 (lèse majesté law) to protect children and young activists.
While the government pledged anti-SLAPP and anti-discrimination legislation, it defended Section 112 and failed to adequately address core concerns regarding political prosecutions, state impunity, and the prosecution of children and youth.
Advocates emphasize that human rights progress must be measured by citizens' ability to exercise their rights and hold institutions accountable, urging transparent implementation with meaningful community participation.

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