<p>After almost six years in prison, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a long-time labour activist turned lèse majesté suspect, was sentenced to six years in jail by the Supreme Court for royal defamation and another year for defaming a military general. &nbsp;</p> <p>At around 10 am on 23 February 2017, the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok read the Supreme Court’s verdict for Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, labour activist and former editor of Voice of Taksin magazine indicted under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A provincial court has once again refused to release an anti-junta student activist accused of lèse majesté, even though several renowned Thai academics have volunteered to act as guarantors for his release.</p> <p dir="ltr">At 11:20 am on 22 February 2017, the Provincial Court of Khon Kaen denied bail valued at 700,000 baht for Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM).</p>

<div> <div>Thailand has again been ranked by Freedom House as 'Not Free' due to chronic human rights violations, suppressed freedom of expression and a military-sponsored draft constitution.</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 2 February 2017, Freedom House published its annual report titled <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-world-2017-freedom-decline-continues-amid-rising-populism-and-autocracy">Freedom in the World 2017: Populists and Autocrats: The Dual Threat to Global Democracy</a>, an annual review of freedom worldwide. </div>

<p><a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/human-rights-watch-hrw">Human Rights Watch</a> (HRW) is the Thai junta’s least favourite international human rights non-governmental organization, just below <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/amnesty-international-ai">Amnesty International</a> (AI). HRW’s 2017 report, covered in this recent Prachatai English <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/6836">news report</a>, which includes some choice quotes from Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, is quite damning.</p>

<p>I decided to write this letter for you,&nbsp;my&nbsp;little&nbsp;son, and for the many other children&nbsp;who may be confused when you hear the story of&nbsp;“Pai.” You may not understand the disappearance of the once-beautiful world.&nbsp;When you grow up a bit, you will come to be aware of more than your own life and comfort.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pai&nbsp;is a university student and activist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid public outcry, a provincial court has refused to release Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa, an embattled anti-junta activist accused of lèse majesté. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>On 1 February 2017, the Khon Kaen Provincial Court in an in camera hearing granted police permission to continue the detention of Jatuphat Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM).</p>

<p dir="ltr">Public prosecutors have dropped defamation charges against <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/6811">Naritsarawan ‘May’ Keawnopparat</a>, Prachatai’s Person of the Year 2016.</p> <p>On 24 January 2017, Naritsarawan told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-38727957">the BBC Thai</a> that the Director-General of the 9th region Public Prosecutor’s Office and prosecutors of Narathiwat Province dropped accusations under the Computer Crime Act and Criminal Defamation against her.</p>

<p>A supporter of anti-junta activists and the anti-establishment red shirts has pleaded guilty to accusations of lèse majesté in a military court.</p> <p>On 24 January 2017, Burin Intin, accused of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté,<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3364">&nbsp;pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to all charges during his trial in Bangkok Military Court.</p> <p>The court will read the sentence on 27 January.</p>

<p>Thai authorities should immediately release a prominent pro-democracy activist charged for a Facebook posting under laws intended to protect Thailand’s monarchy, Human Rights Watch said today. Jatupat (Pai) Boonphatthararaksa faces up to 15 years in prison for lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) charges initiated by the military.</p>

<p>A provincial court in northeastern Thailand has denied bail for an anti-junta student activist accused of lèse majesté.</p> <p>At about 12:30 pm on 20 January 2016, the Khon Kaen Provincial Court of in an in-camera hearing granted police permission to continue the detention of Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM).</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has fined two of Yingluck’s supporters 500 baht each for staring at public prosecutors during the trial on the rice pledging scheme corruption case.</p> <p>On 19 January 2017, judges of the Supreme Court ruled to fine ML Mingmongkol Sonakul, a member of the aristocracy and film director and writer, and Tas Wanpharuehat 500 baht each.</p>