Criminal Court of Thailand Dismissed Case Against Environmental Rights Defender Vitoon Lianjamroon
On 15 December 2021, the Criminal Court of Thailand reviewed and dismissed charges against the case of Mr. Vitoon Lianjamroon who has been accused of defamation for the opinions he expressed during a TV interview and violating the Computer Crime Act for a post he made on social media. These accusations were brought forward by […]
Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission Establishes a Day for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Cover photo: Humas Komnas HAM RI; Photo of Muir Siad Thalib: Kompas The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) of the Republic of Indonesia has designated September 7 as the Day for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. On 7 September 2004, Munir Said Thalib (39 years old) was killed aboard the Garuda Indonesia airline […]
Germain Rukuki’s Sentence Reduced, a judicial victory for the Burundian HRD
Germain Rukuki’s Sentence Reduced A judicial victory for the Burundian HRD [Nairobi/Brussels, 22 June 2021] – After a series of drawn-out court proceedings, the Appeal Court has ruled that the sentence for Burundian human rights defender (HRD) Germain Rukuki has been reduced from 32 years to 1 year, with a fine of 50,000Fbu. Germain was […]
Uprooted Yet Undeterred
Human rights defenders in Colombia continue to stand up for themselves and their communities regardless of forced displacement Dozens of refugees and internally displaced people are human rights defenders (HRDs), but they are not always effectively recognized as such. In this article, we tell some stories about these defenders in Colombia, the challenges their communities […]
Experts: Honduras Must Investigate Illicit Actions Denounced in Berta Cáceres Case
June 1, 2021 A month into the trial of a retired military intelligence officer and president of the DESA hydroelectric company, David Castillo, for the murder of Lenca leader Berta Cáceres in Honduras, the Expert Observation Mission remains concerned about the right to the truth and the clarification of the acts that led to the […]
Guarantees for the Exercise of the Right of Indigenous Peoples to Protest in Colombia
Bogota, May 21, 2021 – Protection International (PI) notes with concern that the Colombian government has failed to ensure the necessary guarantees for the exercise of the right to free association, freedom of expression, and peaceful protest. As it stands, Colombia’s official position does not correspond to the State obligations to respect, guarantee, and protect […]
Important Legal Victory for Land Rights Defenders of Thailand
The Southern Peasants’ Federation finally wins court case after eight years of deliberations and delays [Thailand – 25 March 2021] Thirteen years of struggle and eight years of waiting finally resulted in a positive outcome for the land rights defenders of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT). On 19 March 2021, the Thai Administrative […]
Human Rights Defenders Coalition “Repression and Silencing of Activists Is Not Just: Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law “
[Jakarta] 22 February, 2021 “If the ITE Law cannot provide a sense of justice, I will ask the DPR to jointly revise this law, this ITE Law” (President Joko Widodo during a TNI-Polri leadership meeting at the State Palace, Monday 15/2/2021) The President’s statement is a reaction to the public unrest towards the many criminalization […]
Investigation Moves Forward Concerning Land Rights Defender Assassination Attempt
Cases of violence against SPFT members keep piling up while Thai authorities fail to end the culture of impunity [Thailand] On 21 January 2021, Mr. Dam Onmuang, a land rights defender from the Santi Pattana Community, attended the first court appointment on the case of his attempted murder last October. The Santi Pattana Community is […]
Security Measures Were Extended Until the End of January for Anti-Gold Mining Movement KRBK but Concerns Over Their Safety Persist
The perpetrator of the firearm attack remains in his governmental job until the investigation committee declares him guilty [Thailand] A sense of insecurity has persisted in Ban Na Nong Bong since 12 January, when Mr Thanakrit Inthara, a local public officer, fired against two anti-gold mining protesters. The victims are members of the community-based group […]