[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed concern [press release] on Friday regarding the expanding role which the Thai military is playing in the civilian administration. Thailand will soon vote on a final draft [text, PDF, in Thai] of their constitution, and a new law places limits on advocating for or against the constitution which has led to the arrests of several human rights protestors. Zied is particularly concerned with Order Number 13/2016 [JURIST report], a law enacted last month that significantly expands the power of the military to allow them to act as general law enforcement under 27 laws. This proposed final draft of the constitution would also institutionalize the military into policy-making. Zeid stated, “As a matter of priority, I call on the Government to suspend the application of these dangerously sweeping laws and orders that have bestowed more power upon the military.”

Human rights groups worldwide have expressed growing concern over Thailand’s governmental impunity since it became a military junta in May 2014. Earlier this month Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] and several other rights groups urged [JURIST report] Thailand to repeal Order Number 13/2016, expressing concern that it will worsen human rights conditions. In January Zeid called on [JURIST report] the Thai government to fully investigate the whereabouts of at least 82 people listed as disappeared and to criminalize forced disappearance through legislation. That same month, Thailand unveiled [JURIST report] the new draft constitution, which human rights groups stated was aimed at increasing the power of the military under the guise of clauses intended to promote national security, permitting the government to commit human rights abuses without fear of punishment in violation of international treaties. In December Amnesty International called for [JURIST report] a thorough investigation into torture allegations levied against the police responsible for the arrests of two men in relation to the Koh Tao murders. The men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, were found guilty of the murder of two British tourists in the vacation island of Koh Tao.