A criminal defamation case against two journalists in Thailand is set to proceed this week, despite calls from the United Nations and prominent rights groups for the charges to be dropped amid concerns over press freedom there. The charges relate to an article published July 17 last year that included information from a Reuters investigative piece that alleged some Thai naval forces have been profiting from the smuggling of ethnic Rohingya people fleeing violence in neighboring Myanmar. Reuters won a Pulitzer Prize in international reporting for its series on the persecution of the Rohingya on Monday. The Phuketwan journalists are accused of knowingly publishing false information and committing slander, according to the charge sheet.
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A defamation case against two journalists is proceeding in Thailand
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The reporters cited a Reuters' report implicating authorities in human trafficking
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U.N. calls for the case to be dropped; investigate abuses against Rohingya migrants
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The case is set to proceed in court April 17
A @placeholder human rights official has called on the Thai government to drop the case.