Former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan has been sentenced to five years in prison for exposing classified Ministry of Foreign Affairs documents during a TV broadcast in 2009.  He was later granted provisional bail.

44 members of the recently disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP) face an ethics investigation for supporting the proposal to amend the royal defamation law. If found guilty, they will be banned from politics for life.

88 student organisations and activist groups from 19 universities across the country issued a joint statement raising “serious concerns” about the effect of the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and ban its leaders from politics for 10 years on the stability of the legislative process and freedom of expression in Thailand.

The European External Action Service (EEAS), the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR), and the foreign affairs departments of at least five countries have issued statements condemning the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party and ban its leaders from politics for 10 years as a setback to political pluralism in Thailand.

Following the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), formerly the largest opposition party which emerged with the highest number of seats following the May 2023 general election, its MPs have joined a new party named “People’s Party.”

In the Constitutional Court verdict to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP), the Court has claimed that ‘the MFP’s campaign sought to take advantage of the monarchy to win the election,’ while it also warned representatives of foreign governments to follow diplomatic etiquette when expressing their opinions on this matter.

The Constitutional Court ruled today (7 August) to dissolve the Move Forward Party, the largest opposition party and the party with the highest number of seats in the House of Representatives, on the grounds that the party had committed treason by campaigning to amend the royal defamation law.

In a reply to a communication from UN Special Rapporteurs, the Thai government said that the royal defamation law warrants severe penalties as it protects the monarchy and national security.  It also stated that the Constitutional Court is independent and will make its decision in accordance with established law and the Constitution.

Ahead of the Constitutional Court’s verdict on a petition seeking to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP), the Party has defended itself, asserting that the Court does not have the authority to order dissolution, and that the Election Commission (EC)’s petition is unlawful.

78 days after the death of activist Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom, who died in prison following a long hunger strike, a lawyer has urged the authorities to expedite their investigation and disclose all findings to the public before the court inquest into Bung’s death proceeds, asserting that her death occurred at the Correctional Hospital.

Student activist Parit Chiwarak has been sentenced to 2 years in prison on a royal defamation charge for a Facebook post made on 28 July 2021.

The Move Forward Party (MFP) is proposing amendments to the 2017 Constitution aiming at erasing the legacy of the 2014 military coup, including mechanisms to prevent future coups and repealing articles in the Constitution that turned orders of the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) into law.