Thailand
Thailand has a dedicated terrorism financing law as well as specific counterterrorism provisions in its Criminal Code. The death penalty can be imposed for terrorist offences. There is a limited carve-out from the definition of a terrorist act for the right of protest.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
Section 135(1) of the Criminal Code defines a terrorism offence as follows:
Whoever, acting unlawfully, as follows:
(1) Commits an act of violence or exercise any act to cause a danger to life or of grievous bodily harm or serious harm to any person's freedom; or
(2) Commits any act causing serious damage to a transportation system, a communications system or public infrastructure;
(3) Commits any act causing damage to public or private property or where it is likely to cause significant economic loss;
where the act is made in order to compel the Thai government, a foreign government, or an international organization to do or refrain from any act or by causing terror to the people.
Acts by demonstration, convocation, protest, argument, or movement demanding government support or justice is not a terrorism offence.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Thailand is a State Party to the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | State Party |
Thailand is also a State Party to the main regional treaty on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| ASEAN 2007 Treaty on Counter Terrorism | State Party |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The death penalty can be imposed for terrorist offences under the Criminal Code.
A 2013 Terrorism Financing Law was replaced with a new law in 2016.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
The Thai Police and army have considerable counterterrorism expertise.
In 2017, the Thai Cabinet approved the Counter Terrorism Action Plan which sets short, medium (one to five years) and long term plans (twenty years) to address the threat of terrorism.
Glossary
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