Protests took place last week in Chiang Mai’s old town to show support for detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and demand the release of activists and protesters detained on charges relating to political expression.

The Chiang Rai Provincial Court has dismissed charges against former activist Supreeya Jaikaew on the grounds that the message on the banner she was accused of placing did not constitute an offence under the royal defamation law.

The Criminal Court today (21 December) dismissed a royal defamation charge filed against online influencer Aniwat Prathumthin, also known by the internet alias “Nara Crepe Katoei”, for video advertisements o the online shopping platform Lazada.

Former pro-democracy activist and protest leader Shinawat Chankrajang has been sentenced to 3 years in prison on a royal defamation charge over a speech he gave at a protest in December 2020. He has been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison as his family was immediately unable to post bail for him.

The conviction of Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork for royal defamation charge was a violation of freedom of expression and sends a message to opposition party members to keep silent, says Human Rights Watch, who call for such use of the justice system to silence opposition lawmakers to be taken in account by countries being asked to consider Thailand’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council.

A 26-year-old programmer charged with royal defamation for shouting at a royal motorcade has been found guilty and sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison. He has now been released on bail pending appeal.

A 32-year-old online clothing vendor has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for royal defamation stemming from a 2021 share of three Facebook posts about the government’s Covid-19 vaccine policy, police corruption and calls for monarchy reform. He has been denied bail and is now detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

A 37-year-old activist arrested last Monday (6 November) on a royal defamation charge filed against him over a number of Facebook posts has been denied bail and is now detained in a prison in Phatthalung.

The Thanyaburi Provincial Court yesterday (8 November) dismissed a royal defamation charge filed against student activist Nutchanon Pairoj for a book of speeches given by protest leaders in 2020.

A 27-year-old business owner has been found guilty of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for sharing two Facebook posts and given a suspended prison sentence of 3 years.

Activist Mongkhon Thirakot has been found guilty of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act and sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for two Facebook posts made in July 2022.

Four human rights organizations call for amendments to the royal defamation, or lèse-majesté, law to bring it into line with Thailand’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and for the government to reverse the previous administration's repressive policies and actions, after it was reported that the number of verdicts in royal defamation cases has reached 100 in less than two years.