<p>A panel discussion preceding a press screening of the Romanian documentary Collective highlights the obstacles facing investigative journalists in Thailand.</p>

<p>Mongkhon Thirakot, who was <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9179">arrested</a> on Wednesday (14 April) on charges under the lèse majesté law and the Computer Crimes Act while on a hunger strike in front of the Criminal Court in Bangkok, has been granted bail after two days in detention.</p>

<p>Khon Kaen University has terminated the work permit of David Eirich Streckfuss, an independent academic who oversees the Council on International Educational Exchange programme at the University. The decision reportedly came after police visited the University President and Faculty Dean, after Streckfuss participated in a workshop which partly involved decentralization.</p>

<p>A man who has been on hunger strike in front of the Criminal Court for the past three days to demand the release of detained activists has been arrested on charges under the lèse majesté law and the Computer Crimes Act.</p>

<p>Ignoring the long Songkran holidays and a new surge of Covid-19 infections, people have started to demonstrate their sympathy with the pro-democracy protesters who are in detention without being proved guilty by joining the detainees in fasting and by protesting in front of the Supreme Court.</p>

<p>Patiwat &lsquo;Mor Lam Bank&rsquo; Saraiyaem was allowed bail while 2 others were not, following their decision to withdraw their legal representation in protest against what they call an unfair judicial process where their right to legal consultation and the presumption of innocence were undermined</p>

<p>22 people facing charges relating to the protests on 19 &ndash; 20 September 2020, including 7 protest leaders facing lèse majesté charges, have withdrawn their legal representation in protest at court measures and treatment by prison officials which deny them the right to a fair and open trial. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As Covid-19 infections spread in pubs and bars, 9 people who gave speeches at the 27 March protest at Ratchaprasong intersection have been charged with violating the Emergency Decree.</p>

<p>A student in Phuket has not been allowed to pass to Grade 10 because of his rallies in 2020 about students&rsquo; rights and liberties and the abolition of uniforms. The school tried to stop his and his friends&rsquo; activism before prohibiting him from continuing his education at the school on the grounds of not being loyal to the nation and monarchy.</p>

<p>Phonphimon (last name withheld), a 22-year-old online vendor from Chiang Mai, faces a royal defamation charge and a charge under the Computer Crimes Act for a Facebook post made in October 2020 and is currently still in detention.</p>

<p>Activist Piyarat &ldquo;Toto&rdquo; Chongthep was immediately re-arrested on a royal defamation charge under Section 112, Thailand&rsquo;s lèse majesté law, after he was granted bail on a criminal organization charge and released from Bangkok Remand Prison.</p>