<p>Chukiat &lsquo;Justin&rsquo; Saengwong, a pro-democracy protester, was arrested at night on 22 March on a charge of royal defamation and taken into police custody awaiting a court decision on bail. The court then allow the police request for temporary detention.</p>

<p>Activist Parit Chiwarak read out a statement during a hearing questioning the court&#39;s decision to reject bail for those who were charged with the royal defamation law and declaring that he would be fasting as an act of protest against the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Section 112 of Thailand&rsquo;s Criminal Code, which criminalises defamation, insults, and threats to members of the monarchy, is fundamentally incompatible with the right to freedom of expression, said ARTICLE 19 in a&nbsp;briefing published today.</p>

<p>On 24 February, the Facebook page of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paritchiwarakofficial/posts/283661663121426">Parit &lsquo;Penguin&rsquo; Chiwarak</a> released another letter he has written from prison, where he is being held after being denied bail while he awaits trial for lèse majesté. This letter is addressed &lsquo;From the prison to the palace&rsquo; and speaks to the king directly.</p>

<p>Chaiamorn &lsquo;Ammy&rsquo; Kaewwiboonpan, lead singer of the pop band The Bottom Blues, is among 3 people against whom the police have requested an arrest warrant for lèse majesté, arson and computer crimes over the burning of a King Rama X big portrait in front of Klong Prem Central prison on the night of 27 February.</p>

<p>Secretary-General of the Move Forward Party proposes Section 112 amendment to open up discussion, though the draft amendment does not satisfy everyone.</p>

<p>Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch concern over the bail denial of the 4 prominent activists as&nbsp;an abuse of the judicial process to silence peaceful critics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The May 18 Memorial Foundation denounces the Thai government that has consistently oppressed the pro-democracy movement of its people.</p>

<p>A spokesperson for the state prosecutor has announced that cases has been filed against Anon Nampa, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, Patipan Luecha and Parit Chiwarak under Section 112 of the Criminal Code for giving speeches about the monarchy in protests during 2020, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/TLHR2014/status/1359038920021872645">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights</a>.</p>

<p>A 58th person has been charged under Section 112 of the Criminal Code for paying respect to protesters wearing crop tops in an activity mocking King Rama X in January 2021.</p>

<p>UN human rights experts today expressed grave concerns over Thailand&rsquo;s increasingly severe use of lèse-majesté laws to curtail criticism of the monarchy, and said they were alarmed that a woman had been sentenced to over 43 years in prison for insulting the royal family.</p>