Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents various questions concerning international law and states’ domestic laws affected by this global pandemic. One of the legal issues amid COVID-19 pandemic is the state immunity principle. Many lawsuits against foreign states have challenged the state immunity principle amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Thailand, the Chiangmai Provincial Court (court) addressed in its judgement that it did not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the compensation for COVID-19 pandemic’s damages dispute between a Thai restaurant owner and the United States (US). Notwithstanding surrounding controversies over COVID-19 pandemic, the court considered the motion denied. The main implication of the judgement is that Thailand accepted the state immunity principle under customary international law. This research briefly explains the sovereign immunity doctrine relating to this case, summarises the facts, and analyses the potential ramifications of this judgement under international law.
This article has been updated from ‘The Lawsuit against the United States for Causing COVID-19,’ 13 (2020) J. E. Asia & Int’l L. 233. The authors also pay tribute to the healthcare workers around the world who have lost their lives in the battle against COVID-19, and expresses his sympathy for the millions of victims of the virus. All the websites cited in this article were last visited on February 1, 2023
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Notes
- 1.
Einstein (1950).
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
Shaw (2017).
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
Chen (2020).
- 12.
Xinhua (2020).
- 13.
- 14.
Some scholars suggested that jurisdictional immunity should to be a rule instead of a principle of international law. See Finke (2010).
- 15.
Mesch (1974).
- 16.
Webb (2018); Sucharitkul, op. cit., 117.
- 17.
Crawford (2012).
- 18.
Randall (2002); The Parlement Belge, (1880) LR 5 PD 197, at 214–215.
- 19.
- 20.
- 21.
- 22.
Jaffe (1963).
- 23.
- 24.
Pennington (2007).
- 25.
- 26.
Preiser (1995).
- 27.
- 28.
- 29.
Yang (2012b).
- 30.
- 31.
- 32.
- 33.
Brownlie (2008).
- 34.
- 35.
Methymaki and Tzanakopoulos (2020); Shaw, op. cit., 525.
- 36.
- 37.
Fox & Webb, op. cit., 167–286; Keller (2021).
- 38.
Sucharitkul, op. cit., 3. As the landmark case in the US Supreme Court judgement of The Schooner Exchange v. McFaddon and Others, 11 U.S. 116 (1812). See Bankas, op. cit., 33–51; Murphy (1968).
- 39.
- 40.
Laski (2014).
- 41.
Shmalo (1965); Victory Transport, Inc. v. Comisaria General, 336 F.2d 354, 381 US 934 (1965); Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, 507 US 349, 361 (1993).
- 42.
- 43.
- 44.
- 45.
- 46.
It was come into force in 1976. There are only eight state parties: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. See Sinclair (1973).
- 47.
- 48.
Noting that Sompong Sucharitkul from Thailand was appointed as a chairman of the working group to consider the question of future work by the Commission on the topic of Jurisdictional immunities of States and their property and an ILC’s Special Rapporteur for the topic in 1977. See United Nations (1978) Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1978, vol.II: Part Two Report of the Commission to the General Assembly on the Work of Its Thirtieth Session. United Nations, New York, 152–153.
- 49.
Bankas, op. cit., 209–249; Morris (1989).
- 50.
Hafner (2013).
- 51.
GA Res. 59/38 (Dec. 2, 2004) (adopted without a vote).
- 52.
Van Aaken (2014).
- 53.
- 54.
Art. 30 of UNCSI.
- 55.
According to the European Court of Human Rights has consistently relied on that UNCSI provisions. See Pavoni (2018).
- 56.
Pmbl. of UNCSI.
- 57.
- 58.
- 59.
Supreme Court of Cassation (Corte Suprema di Cassazione) is the highest court of appeal or court of last resort in the Italy judicial system. See Merryman and Vigoriti (1966–1967).
- 60.
Alebeek, op. cit., 10–102. See, e.g., Ferrini v. Republica Federale di Germania, Corte di Cassazione, Joint Sections, Judgement 6 November 2003–11 March 2004, n. 5044 (“Ferrini Case”). Ferrini Judgement No. 5044/2044, 11 March 2004, Rivista di diritto internazionale 87 (2004), 539; English translation: 128 I.L.R. 659.
- 61.
Tomuschat (2021).
- 62.
- 63.
Dissenting opinions of Judge Cançado Trindade in Jurisdictional Immunities of the State (Germany v. Italy: Greece intervening), Judgement, ICJ Reports 2012, pp. 179–290; Dissenting opinions of Judge Yusuf, ibid., 291–308; Dissenting opinions of Judge Ad Hoc Gaja, ibid., 309–322.
- 64.
Barcelona Traction, Liht and Power Company, Limited, Judgement, I.C.J. Reports 1970, p. 3., at para. 33; Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro), Judgement, ICJ Reports 2007, p. 43, at para. 110.
- 65.
Brownlie, op. cit., 597. See also Prosecutor v. Furundzija, Case No. IT-95–17/1-T, at paras. 260–262. However, there are divergences between the Obligations of jus cogens and erga omnes. See Picone (2011).
- 66.
Nagan and Root (2013).
- 67.
- 68.
It is a crossing and contesting a variety of actors in international law with Interdisciplinary scholarship reaffirming them as the matrix is articulated as legal and political. See Dos Reis and Grzybowski (2021).
- 69.
It has been signed by 28 states and ratified by 22 states, and Thailand has not signed yet. See United Nations Treaty Collection. (2022).
- 70.
Section 4 ter of Thailand Civil Procedure Code.
‘The other plaint as provided other than the Sect. 4 bis which the defendant is not domiciled within the Kingdom and the cause is not arose within the Kingdom, if the plaintiff has Thai nation or domicile within the Kingdom. It shall be submitted to the Civil Court or to the Court within the territorial jurisdiction of which the Plaintiff is domiciled.
In the case of the plaint according to the first paragraph, if the defendant has the property liable to execution within the Kingdom, irrespective of temporization or permanence, the plaintiff shall submit the plaint to the Court within the terrestrial jurisdiction of which such property is situated’.
Section 4 bis of Thailand Civil Procedure Code.
‘The plaint concerning immovable property, or any right or interest concerning immovable property shall be submitted to the court within the territorial jurisdiction of which the immovable property is situated, whether the defendant shall have domicile within the Kingdom or not, or to the Court within the territorial jurisdiction of which the defendant is domiciled’.
- 71.
- 72.
- 73.
The Connexion (2022).
- 74.
Official Statement of the Office of the Prime Minister (2005).
- 75.
Regulation Issued under Sect. 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 1). In News. Available via Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Available via https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/mkKfL2iULZ/migrate_directory/news3-20200329-164122-910029.pdf.
- 76.
Nguyen (2020).
- 77.
In the private interview with the Plaintiff, he reviewed that the main reason he did not appeal against a judgement to the Court of Appeal due to his personal reason.
- 78.
Björgvinsson (2015).
- 79.
Art. 27 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. See Villiger, op. cit., 369–376; Dörr and Schmalenbach (2012b). See also Treatment of Polish Nationals and Other Persons of Polish Origin or Speech in Danzig Territory, Advisory Opinion, 1932 PCIJ (ser. A/B) No. 44 (Feb. 4).
- 80.
Aust (2013).
- 81.
- 82.
Arts. 1–2 of Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts 2001; Stern (2010).
- 83.
Stein (1994); Goldsmith and Levinson (2009).
Cf. Hersch Lauterpacht argued that the relationship between international law and national law should be governed by international law. See Maniruzzaman (2001). However, Antonio Cassese argued that a matter of national legal tradition. See Cassese (1986a).
- 84.
- 85.
Gragl (2018).
- 86.
- 87.
Section 178 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2017.
The King has the Royal Prerogative to conclude a peace treaty, armistice, and other treaties with other countries or international organisations.
Any treaty which provides for a change in Thai territories or external territories over which Thailand has sovereign right or jurisdiction under a treaty or international law, or which requires the enactment of an Act for implementation, and other treaties which may have wide scale effects on the security of economy, society, or trade or investment of the country must be approved by the National Assembly. In this regard, the National Assembly shall complete its consideration within sixty days as from the date of receipt of such matter. If the National Assembly does not complete the consideration within such period of time, it shall be deemed that the National Assembly has given approval.
Other treaties which may have wide scale effects on the security of economy, society, or trade or investment of the country under paragraph two are treaties pertaining to free trade, common customs union, or the authorisation of natural resources utilisation, or which cause the country to lose rights over natural resources, in whole or in part, or on any other treaties provided by law.
There shall also be a law prescribing procedures for the public to participate in the expression of opinions and to obtain necessary remedy from the effects of conclusion of a treaty under paragraph three.
Where a question arises as to whether any treaty constitutes a case under paragraph two or paragraph three, the Council of Ministers may request the Constitutional Court to render a decision thereon. The Constitutional Court shall complete its decision within thirty days as from the date of receipt of such request.
- 88.
Limsira (2017).
- 89.
The following cases reflected the practices of international customary law in Thailand by adopting the obligations erga omnes. E.g. Judgement of the Central Administrative Court No. Red 607–608/2549 (the dispute on the right to secret vote Procedure under art. 21(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights); Judgement of the Civil Court Case No. Red 12,083/2526 (the dispute on immunity from enforcement of diplomatic property under diplomatic immunity and privileges); Judgement of the Supreme Court Case No. 739/2498 (the dispute on the right of the United Nations to manage the assets of the Japanese empire); Judgement of the Supreme Court Case No. 1142/2494 (the dispute on the right of hot pursuit); Judgement of the Supreme Court Case No. 585/2461 (the dispute on the recognition of foreign judgement). See Kittichaisaree (1995).
- 90.
- 91.
E.g. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act 1976 (US), State Immunity Act 1978 (United Kingdom), Singaporean State Immunity Act 1979 (Singapore), The South African Foreign States Immunities Act 87 of 1981 (South Africa), Pakistani State Immunity Ordinance VI of 1981 (Pakistan), Malaysian Immunities and Privileges Act of 1984 (Malaysia), Malawi’s Immunities and Privileges Act No. 16 of1981 (Malawi), State Immunity Act 1985 (Canada), Foreign State Immunity Act of 1985 of the Commonwealth of Australia, Law No. 196/1985 (Australia), Argentina Law No 24/488 (Statute on the Immunity of Foreign States before Argentine Tribunals) 1995, Israeli Foreign State Immunity Law 2008 (Israel), and Act on the Civil Jurisdiction of Japan with respect to a Foreign State Act No. 24 of 2009 (Japan). See Alebeek, op. cit., 200–300.
- 92.
- 93.
- 94.
- 95.
Coccia (2022).
- 96.
Maxmen (2022).
- 97.
Mohamed et al. (2022).
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Limsira, P., Saengsook, W. (2023). Thailand’s Lawsuit Against the United States for Causing COVID-19. In: Lee, E.Y.J. (eds) Revolutionary Approach to International Law. International Law in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7967-5_7
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