At 14, Thanalop Phalanchai became one of the youngest people ever charged with royal defamation. At 15, she was arrested and held in pre-trial detention, making her the youngest person to ever be detained on a royal defamation charge. Her arrest and detention raised questions about the Thai juvenile justice system and whether it is serving the best interests of the country’s children.

<p>Activists Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phuphong, who are undergoing a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners and judicial reform, will continue their hunger strike until every political prisoner is released, said their lawyer during a press conference on Saturday (4 February).</p>

<p>6 opposition parties have issued a statement backing the&nbsp;call for the reform of the judicial system&nbsp;made by monarchy reform activists Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phuphong, who have been on a&nbsp;dry hunger strike&nbsp;since 18 January, but did not respond to their demand for political parties to back the repeal of the royal defamation and sedition laws.</p>

<p><span>The judicial establishment and extreme right wing have tried to belittle a judge&rsquo;s suicide attempt, but his 25-page verdict has kick-started a campaign for reform of the judiciary.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>The apparent suicide attempt of a judge in southern Thailand highlights the need for urgent reform of the judiciary to improve its independence from political interference, the&nbsp;International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)&nbsp;said today.</p>