The National Human Rights Commission expressed concern about a former minister and ex-police officer suing media and human rights defenders for defamation, demanding damages in the millions. It pointed out that this undermines efforts to expose corruption.
On 1 April 2026, the National Human Rights Commission issued an urgent statement regarding the increasing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). It noted that such actions directly threaten freedom of expression and efforts to scrutinize corruption in Thai society.
The statement cited a recent example to highlight these concerns: a former Minister of Labour filed a defamation lawsuit against the editorial team of The Isaan Record news agency, demanding 50 million baht in damages. Although the editor-in-chief later withdrew from the case, the news editor still faces a claim for 1 million baht over reports about bribery related to sending Thai workers to Finland.
Additionally, a human rights defender was targeted by a former police officer who filed a complaint against committee members of the Foreign Workers Union assisting Thai workers deceived into going to Switzerland. The complaint was filed in a distant jurisdiction, creating financial burdens and difficulties in defending the case.
The commission emphasized that such lawsuits are not primarily about legal outcomes but are intended to burden defendants with time, costs, and emotional strain, causing fear and stopping the exposure of truth. High-ranking political figures and public persons must accept scrutiny and criticism on matters of public interest and should not use the law to silence citizens.
The statement also called on the government to urgently advance the draft Anti-SLAPP Act to sustainably address these issues. This law would protect media, human rights defenders, and citizens, establish remedies for those unfairly sued to silence them, and ensure Thailand’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a party.
The commission concluded that having Anti-SLAPP legislation would promote a transparent democracy and allow corruption investigations in Thai society to be conducted safely and fairly.