HomeINTERPOL Data Removal: Successful Defense in Politically Motivated Case in Thailand
Case Circumstances
Our client, a Myanmar citizen and democratic movement activist, became the subject of an international INTERPOL search upon request from Myanmar’s military junta. In 2021, he was detained at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok) based on a search notice alleging incitement to riots and assault on government officials. The persecution began following his active participation in protests against Myanmar’s military coup and public statements supporting the overthrown government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The client insisted that the case had exclusively political motivation related to his opposition activities.
Prosecution’s Position
Myanmar’s military authorities accused our defendant of organizing mass riots and using force against military personnel during anti-government demonstrations. It was alleged that he coordinated protest actions and physically resisted security forces, which was qualified as serious crimes against the state. The junta demanded his immediate arrest and extradition, claiming the charges were criminal rather than political in nature.
Defense Strategy and Procedures
Our legal team filed an application with the INTERPOL Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) demanding the removal of client data from international search databases. The argumentation included:
- Comprehensive analysis of political context: the client’s participation in democratic resistance and human rights organizations opposing military dictatorship;
- Documentation of persecution initiated after public criticism of the coup and support for the legitimate government;
- Witness testimonies and video materials confirming the peaceful nature of the client’s protest activities;
- Official support from Thai human rights organizations and international NGOs, as well as assistance during airport detention;
- Critical analysis of the credibility of accusations based exclusively on testimony from Myanmar military;
- Identification of procedural violations in request transmission, including non-compliance of offense descriptions with INTERPOL standards.
The Commission conducted a thorough examination of the presented materials and concluded that despite the formally criminal qualification of charges (organizing riots), the case bore a clearly expressed political character. A key moment was the recognition that even documents from Myanmar described the client’s actions as non-violent resistance. His human rights activities, international support, and the risk of using INTERPOL as an instrument of political repression were also considered.
Final Decision
The Commission ruled in favor of our client: information about him was deemed incompatible with INTERPOL’s Constitution (particularly Article 3, prohibiting political interference) and removed from all organizational information systems. Access to this data has been blocked for all INTERPOL member countries. This precedent demonstrates the effectiveness of professional legal defense in cases of improper use of international search for political purposes.
If you face a similar situation or need INTERPOL data removal in Thailand — timely assistance from an experienced specialist can become the decisive factor for a successful case outcome.
