Two activists have been sentenced to prison on a royal defamation charge for allegedly burning a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn in front of the Klongprem Central Prison. They were later released on bail pending appeal.

The Administrative Court has revoked the Election Commission (EC)’s regulations on Senate candidate introductions, saying that the regulations are unconstitutional as they excessively infringe on the right to freedom of expression. Nevertheless, the Court order will not be effective until the EC expresses its intention not to appeal the verdict.

The family and lawyer of activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, who died on 14 May following a long hunger strike to demand judicial reform and the release of political prisoners, have raised questions about the credibility of Netiporn’s medical records obtained from the Corrections Hospital after several discrepancies were noted.

On Sunday (19 May), to commemorate Nakba, the Palestinian displacement that began in May 1948, protesters in Bangkok marched to the UK, German, and US embassies to demand that the three countries divest from and end arms deliveries to Israel.

The Thai Constitutional Court has accepted a petition filed by a group of caretaker senators, seeking to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing a person with a prior criminal charge to a cabinet position.

Since pro-democracy protests emerged in 2020, Thailand's draconian royal defamation law has been wielded in several cases concerning political expression, often with disproportionate penalties and with verdicts that far exceed the boundaries of protecting freedom of expression. In many cases, law enforcement seems over the top. Prachatai has collected data on the following 12 cases of royal defamation between July 2020 and14 May 2024 that seem egregious and anomalous

Medical records from Thammasat University Hospital state that pro-democracy activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom had no vital signs upon arrival and that an endotracheal tube was found in her esophagus instead of her windpipe, says Krisadang Nutcharus, Netiporn’s lawyer.

A network of civil society organisations and activist groups has called on the government to investigate the death of detained activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, and to release all political prisoners held in pre-trial detention.

The Corrections Department has yet to provide the medical records of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a pro-democracy activist who died in pre-trial detention during a hunger strike, claiming that a power of attorney was not done correctly. Netiporn’s lawyer has said the information he has received contradicts the statement made by the Department to the media.

Following the death of pro-democracy activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, candlelit vigils took place in several provinces in her memory and to demand the release of political prisoners.

Diplomats in Thailand have expressed condolences following the death of pro-democracy activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who died on Tuesday (14 May) after suffering a cardiac arrest while on a hunger strike to call for judicial system reform and the release of political dissidents. Meanwhile, several human rights organizations have called for an investigation into the circumstances of her death.