112WATCH interviews Jernell Tan of SUARAM on the human rights crisis in the Southeast Asian region

The interview highlights the severe humanitarian cost of Thailand's Article 112, noting how it disrupts the lives, education, and mental health of young activists, forcing many into precarious exile in countries like Malaysia. Jernell Tan of SUARAM observes that while Thailand uses a "national security" model to enforce silence, Malaysia employs a "public order" framework to achieve similar censorship through technical regulations.

To challenge these repressive laws, Jernell Tan suggests that activists shift from political debates to "governance" issues (like judicial standards) and utilize international legal avenues. She proposes that ASEAN's human rights body (AICHR) can pressure for reform by framing the issue as a necessary step for "investor certainty" and regional business compliance. "Public order" is being suppressed through technical regulations instead. For a counter-argument, Tan suggested shifting from political rhetoric to focusing on "good governance" (e.g., due diligence standards) and litigation in foreign courts. She also proposed pushing ASEAN (AICHR) to pressure for legal reforms, framing them as a necessity for "investor confidence" and to align with global business standards.