The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organizations Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) call on Thailand’s Constitutional Court to dismiss the petition to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) to ensure compliance with the country’s obligations under international human rights law.

The Constitutional Court ruled yesterday (3 April) to accept a petition filed by the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) seeking the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the disqualification of its executive board members.

Following the decision of the Election Commission of Thailand to petition the Constitutional Court seeking the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP) for campaigning to amend the royal defamation law, Move Forward Party leader Chaithawat Tulathon warned that claiming treason as a reason to disband the Party would bring the monarchy into the political conflict.

Three activists have been charged with royal defamation and sedition for reading a statement and giving a speech during a protest in November 2021 after a complaint was filed against them by an ultra-royalist group leader.

Ultra-royalist groups who have been filing royal defamation complaints against pro-democracy activists and netizens, are often seen as laughing stocks, but they have made some wave with their campaigns

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.

The denial of bail for activist Sopon Surariddhidhamrong has brought the number of people detained on a royal defamation charge in Thailand to 9. Of this number, 3 are detained following a final verdict or after a decision not to appeal, while 6 are detained pending trial or appeal.

Another royal defamation complaint has been filed against student activist Benja Apan for a speech given during a protest on 3 September 2021.

Thai people in Vancouver, Canada, staged a protest last Sunday (30 April) in front of the polling station at the Thai Consulate to demand the repeal of the royal defamation law.

<p>A 22-year-old Twitter user has been found guilty of violating the Computer Crimes Act over 8 tweets about the monarchy and sentenced to 4 years in prison, suspended for 3 years, during which time he is prohibited from socializing with anyone who may lead him to repeat his offense.</p>

<p>The Criminal Court has refused to repeal an order blocking an online petition for the repeal of the royal defamation law, claiming that the website contains a phrase that is a distortion of fact.</p>