Aussie arrested in Bangkok over Malaysia criticism
A man from the Malaysian government, a man arrested in Thailand on charges of insulting the Malaysian government, says that Southeast Asian countries are the victims of the transnational raid, which he cooperated with critics.
The 66 -year -old independent scholar and writer Murray Hunter told Associated Press that he believed that he was arrested in an inappropriate manner for the articles he wrote about Malaysia in 2024 by Thai police on Monday in 2024.
He questioned how his case fell into the Judicial Jurisdiction of Thailand.
Concerns about cross -border pressure are documented by groups such as Human Rights Monitoring Organization and UN Rights Experts.
In a report in July, “Deep concerns about the increase in transnational prints … Opposition, criticism or human rights advocate to deterrence, silence or punish,” they expressed.
The UN Report to the Human Rights Council said that suspected human rights violations also contain serious judgments and difficult disappearances affecting Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, allegations of rejecting all these countries.
Hunter, who lives in Southern Thailand, was arrested at the Suvarnabhumi Airport of Bangkok on Monday because he was about to fly to Hong Kong.
He was imprisoned overnight and then 20,000 baht ($ 934), waiting for the appearance of the November 17 court, was released on bail.
The slander accusation against him can be punished for a maximum of two years imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 baht ($ A9,378).
Hunter accused the Malaysia for the accusation of criminal insults against him.
A copy of the accusation page seen by the EP defines this agency as a victim in the case, but the complainant says he is a person who stayed in a hotel in Bangkok and does not name it.
The Commission did not immediately respond to Hunter’s request for comments.
Thailand Foreign Ministry said he could not comment immediately.
A joint statement published by Pen Malaysia, Malaysia’s independent journalism center and free speech organization, was arrested.
In a statement, if the commission was involved in the arrest, it is contrary to the spirit of the Malaysian Constitution and the protection of freedom of expression.
“Although the government reserves legal reasons under the current restrictive laws, the use of Thai public authorities to silence the opposition, will weaken over the excessive access of its powers and judicial authority and constitutional guarantees,” he said.
Hunter said his case should be a wider concern.
“If this can happen to me, now that a corpse in another country complained about the Thai police may have the same consequences and can take a flight and put a lock,” he said.
