A/HRC/44/50/Add.4 requests, including through the legal system, no protection has been provided to these persons. Instead, Karapatan, Gabriela and RMP members have faced a counter suit which may also be a retaliation for their human rights activities. The Special Rapporteur regrets the absence of response from the Government, all the more so in view of the grave nature of the allegations, including the continuing risks to the life, personal security and liberty of members of Karapatan, RMP and Gabriela human rights NGOs. 89. The Special Rapporteur remains extremely concerned at the continued allegations of arbitrary arrests, detention, extrajudicial killings, and threats of death and of sexual violence against human rights defenders in the Philippines, some of which allegedly emanate from law enforcement agencies. Despite repeated communications to the Government raising these issues, the Special Rapporteur continues to receive information that, rather than improving, the situation for human rights defenders in the Philippines continues to deteriorate. The Special Rapporteur renews his call on the Government to take urgent and effective steps to ensure the safety and security of human rights defenders and to create an enabling environment for the exercise of freedom of association and expression free from any forms of intimidation. 90. In the joint communication addressed to the Government of Thailand (THA 1/2020 dated 20 January 2020, the Special Rapporteur expressed his concern at the judicial proceedings against the political party the Future Forward Party (FFP), which could lead to its dissolution. The FFP was formed in March 2018 by Mr. Thanathorn Juangroongruangki and has campaigned for the amendment of the 2017 military-drafted Constitution and for military reforms, including reducing the military budget, removing the military’s interference in domestic politics, reducing the number of generals in the army, and ending conscription. In the general election of 24 March 2019, the FFP received around six million votes and obtained the third highest number of seats (80) in the lower house of Parliament. The Special Rapporteur expressed his concern that the proceedings may result in party members being prevented from exercising their right to freedom of association and freedom of expression and may intimidate and deter other individuals, including members of other political parties, civil society and human rights defenders, and others, from speaking on the role of the military and the monarchy in Thai politics and other issues of public interest. The Special Rapporteur also expressed serious concern that the various judicial cases, including those related to the holding of a gathering without notification, brought against members of the Future Forward Party, may appear to be related to their views on the influence of the military in domestic politics. The Special Rapporteur regrets the absence of response from the Government to date. 91. In the joint communication addressed to the Government of Vietnam on 22 January 2020 (VNM 5/2019), the Special Rapporteur raised his concerns in regard to allegations concerning the detention of human rights defender Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Thao and the confiscation of her passport by the Vietnamese authorities, as well as the detention of independent journalist Mr. Pham Chi Dung, in what appears to be an act of reprisal for his human rights advocacy. Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Thao, a prominent Vietnamese human rights defender who has previously participated in a session of the Human Rights Council, was detained on 15 November 2019, upon her arrival at Hanoi International Airport, by security officers from the Ministry of Public Security. The Special Rapporteur expressed his concern at allegations that she was interrogated for 8 hours without access to a lawyer or communication with family members, and was not informed of the charges against her. She was allegedly told at the beginning of the interrogation that she was being questioned because of her advocacy work and her involvement with the non-profit organisation VOICE. At approximately 5:00 pm on the same day, Ms. Thao was released without charges. However, her passport was allegedly confiscated by the Vietnamese authorities which prevents her from leaving the country, returning to her place of residence and pursuing her advocacy activities with international actors. 92. Mr. Pham Chi Dung, a prominent Vietnamese journalist, has published numerous articles in Vietnamese raising human rights concerns, notably on freedom of expression, the detention of human rights defenders, the lack of independent unions and other labor rights, and the harassment of independent civil society, and has also engaged with UN human rights bodies. He is a member of the Civil Society Forum and the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of 20