<p>A Pathumwan administrator has blocked plans for a public discussion of human rights issues by candidates slated to run in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bangkok using Covid-19 spread risk as a reason, although activities of such kind&nbsp;had been held before.</p>

<p>It demonstrates that Thai-US security relations remain strong despite anti-American sentiment at home and the growing influence of authoritarian powers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The timing is not good for the age-old party as their candidate campaigns to be governor of Bangkok.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three activists from the monarchy reform group Thaluwang were arrested yesterday (28 April) on a royal defamation charge after police officers raided their apartment.</p>

<p>Sombat Thongyoi, a former Red Shirt protest guard, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act over 3 Facebook posts he made in 2020.</p>

<p>On 25 April, Tanee Saengrat, Director-General of the Department of Information in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), announced that a police request to deny a passport to Pannika Wanich, a former executive of the now-defunct Future Forward Party (FFP), was invalid and not in accordance with ministry regulations.</p>

<p>Independent photojournalist Natthaphon Phanphongsanon was attacked by 4 men near the Democracy Monument after a protest. Another journalist and a bystander were injured by pro-monarchists in another incident that took place shortly afterward.</p>

<p>Pannika Wanich, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and Thanathorn Juangrungruankit, former MPs from the dissolved Future Forward Party (FFP), have had their passports revoked after being accused of sedition.</p>

<p>Sitanun Satsaksit, sister of missing activist in exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit, was included on a police special &lsquo;red level&rsquo; watchlist, said the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CrCF.Thailand/photos/a.417098988337393/5013956021984977/">Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF)</a> today (22 April).</p>

<p>Three members of the monarchy reform activist group Thaluwang were arrested earlier today (22 April) on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act.</p>

<p>A network of civil society organizations dealing with children&rsquo;s rights filed a complaint on Monday (18 April) with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), after Ministry officials were reported to be involved in the detention of 3 teenage activists on 15 April.</p>

<p>Gender equality activists staged a demonstration in front of the Democrat Party headquarters on Monday (18 April) to demand accountability from the party after its former deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi was accused of having sexually assaulted at least 15 women.</p>