Amnesty faces pressure to leave Thailand amid ‘growing intolerance’

Royalist groups have organised petitions calling for Amnesty to be expelled from the country, accusing it of threatening national security

Amnesty International has said attacks against its operations in Thailand were taking place against a backdrop of growing intolerance for human rights discourse" among the country's authorities, and warned of a clampdown on civil society groups.

Amnesty has come under increased pressure in Thailand, where ultra royalists have accused it of threatening national security and interfering in the country's internal affairs after it criticised legal cases filed against monarchy reform protesters.

In November, prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered an investigation into the NGO, while royalist groups have organised petitions calling for it to be expelled from the country.