Chiang Mai residents have declared their province an air pollution zone after the government failed to exercise its legal powers to announce an air pollution crisis to address the problem in the northern region. Meanwhile, a significant increase in respiratory diseases is reported in the region.

Last Friday (15 March), a group of Red Shirts seeking justice for victims of the 2010 Red Shirt crackdowns were blocked by the police when they sought to meet former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at Pra That Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai.

The Chiang Mai Administrative Court ruled on Friday (19 January) that the Prime Minister and the National Environment Board must complete a management plan to address local air pollution issues in 90 days.

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.

A student from Chiang Mai University has been charged with sedition and other crimes under the Computer Crimes Act and the Public Assembly Act over a 24 June 2023 caravan. Several others have also been charged, including a local news outlet.

Student activist Phimchanok Jaihong was sentenced to 2 years in prison, after the Chiang Mai Provincial Court ruled on Wednesday (6 September) that she was guilty of royal defamation because the law protects the monarchy as a whole.

Student activist Thanatorn Vitayabenjang has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison on a royal defamation charge filed against him for reading a statement and giving a speech during a protest in August 2021.

6 activists in Chiang Mai have been charged with contempt of court after a complaint was filed against them by the Constitutional Court Office for protesting the court’s September 2022 ruling that Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was allowed to stay Prime Minister despite the 8-year term limit imposed by the 2017 Constitution.

Academics, activists, medical professionals, and residents in Chiang Mai have filed a class action lawsuit against the Prime Minister and other government agencies for lack of action on air pollution, with the provincial capital now ranking among the world’s most polluted cities.

<p>During a protest at Chiang Mai University yesterday (23 January) to demand the right to bail for political prisoners, police attempted to detain two students and accused them of causing panic and misunderstanding by dressing like inmates.</p>

<p>After it was reported last week that the Myanmar military government had sentenced to death 7 students from Dagon University in Yangon who participated in anti-junta protests, students in Chiang Mai went to the US Consulate and the Myanmar Consulate to file petitions protesting the death sentences.</p>

<p>Indigenous Karen communities from Samoeng District, Chiang Mai, filed a petition on Tuesday (11 October) to oppose the designation of forest land as part of Ob Khan National Park, as the land includes their community forest and spiritual area.</p>