A/HRC/39/41 some places of detention, the confidentiality of interviews and concerns about potential reprisals. In February 2018, the the Subcommittee announced its intention to resume the visit to Rwanda. 26 On 1 June 2018, the Assistant Secretary-General wrote to the Government about the lack of assurances given to the Subcommittee that those interviewed or contacted during the visit would not face intimidation and reprisals. On 18 June 2018, the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern at the suspension of the visit. During the Subcommittee’s confidential session held in Geneva from 18-22 June 2018, it decided it would terminate the visit due to the lack of cooperation of the authorities in the resumption of the visit. 27 On 27 June 2018, the Government responded to the allegations. Saudi Arabia 65. On 28 February 2018, Mr. Essa Al Nukheifi, a human rights defender consulted in December 2016 on the preparations for the mission of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights to Saudi Arabia in January 2017 and the subject of a communication by special procedures mandate holders (SAU 2/2017), was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from travelling and using social media for an equivalent amount of time after his release. 66. On 1 June 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion about the arbitrary detention of Salim Abdullah Hussain Abu Abdullah, who was arrested in December 2014 without a warrant and not provided with a reason for his arrest (see A/HRC/WGAD/2017/10, paras. 31–33). Since the opinion was issued, it has been reported that as an act of reprisal for having his case considered by the Working Group, Mr. Abu Abdullah has repeatedly been placed in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time and been denied regular contact with his family (see A/HRC/39/45, para. 28). On 24 July 2018, the Government responded to the allegations. South Sudan 67. In a report in February 2018, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and OHCHR noted restrictions imposed by national authorities against individuals whose opinions were perceived as critical of the Government or the reputation of the country and who cooperated with the United Nations by attending meetings, sharing information on human rights violations and facilitating access for UNMISS to affected populations (see S/2017/505, S/2017/784, S/2017/1011 and S/2018/163). 68. In follow up to his visit to South Sudan in February 2017, 28 the Assistant SecretaryGeneral addressed allegations on 21 July 2017 to the Government of intimidation and threats against individuals for having cooperated with UNMISS and other United Nations entities outside South Sudan, including cases of individuals who were forced to leave the country. Thailand 69. On 30 June 2017, special procedures mandate holders raised concerns over the harassment of and death threats made against Mr. Maitree Chamroensuksakul, a Lahu indigenous rights defender, following a meeting with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders during his visit to Thailand in May 2017 (THA 4/2017). 70. In August 2017, Ms. Sirikan Charoensiri of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights was charged with giving false information regarding a criminal offence, which may be directly linked to her cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms. She had been previously charged with sedition (THA 2/2017). 26 27 28 OHCHR, “UN torture prevention experts announce resuming visit to Rwanda,” 28 February 2018. OHCHR, “UN torture prevention body to visit Burundi, Costa Rica, Senegal and Switzerland; terminates Rwanda visit”, 4 July 2018. See OHCHR, “South Sudan: Senior UN human rights official condemns deplorable rights situation, calls for perpetrators to be held to account” (17 February 2017). 13