Thailand should drop charges against children who joined pro-democracy protests in late 2020, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.
AI has raised alarm over the fate of more than 200 children charged with sedition, including 17 minors facing 15-year jail sentence for allegedly insulting the Thai king.
“In addition to charges, some child protesters risk facing the added penalty of being disowned or abused by their own parents, due to the pressure put on them by authorities,” Amnesty International Thailand researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said, according to Agence France-Presse.
The youngest child arrested during a protest was 11 years old, the AI report said, while in another case police reportedly used cable ties to restrain a 12-year-old in July 2021, AFP reports.
Minors told researchers that as well as following them, authorities had also put pressure on their teachers and parents to discourage them from participating in protests, according to AFP.
Youth-led demonstrations calling for political change and reform to Thailand’s untouchable monarchy drew tens of thousands onto the streets of Bangkok at their peak in late 2020.
Amnesty accused the Thai authorities of having “arrested, prosecuted, surveilled and intimidated” child protesters for taking part.
“Children with their whole lives ahead of them now face severe repercussions merely for participating in peaceful protests,” Chanatip said.