The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has dismissed murder charges against four national park officials charged for the alleged abduction and murder of indigenous rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, citing insufficient evidence.

Following the post-sentencing detention of human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa for royal defamation, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the Move Forward Party have issued statements condemning Anon’s sentencing and raising concerns about freedom of expression.

The Civil Court has ordered the police to pay damages to two reporters shot with rubber bullets while covering a protest in July 2021, as the police did not take care and did not use non-lethal weapons in the proper way. However, the Court ruled that this was not a violation of press freedom or an attempt at intimidating the press to stop their reporting.

The Royal Thai Police Commission yesterday passed, by a vote of 10 to 1, a resolution appointing Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol as the 14th Commissioner-General, succeeding Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas.

Laid-off workers from two textile companies have submitted a letter to the PM, seeking financial support from the government as they have not received wages and severance pay from the companies.

Prinn Panitchapakdi, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, faces an additional two years imprisonment following a sexual assault conviction.

A civil society network is proposing the repeal of the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act as part of a movement to legalise sex work and grant sex workers protection under the labour laws.

Human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa has been found guilty of royal defamation and sentenced to 4 years in prison for a speech he gave during a protest on 14 October 2020. He is now detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison while the Appeal Court considers his bail request.

Chaithawat Tulathon, former Secretary-General of the Move Forward Party, has been chosen as the party’s new leader following Pita Limjaroenrat’s resignation. The party also appointed new spokespersons and a board of consultants.

International conglomerates are expressing strong interest in investing in Thailand, which expects a $5 billion surge in investments, said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin in interview on 25 September upon his return to Thailand from the United Nations General Assembly.

The cabinet has approved confidentiality guidelines preventing unauthorised disclosure of information about cabinet meeting discussions to the media. The guidelines allows for government agencies to take disciplinary action against civil servants and press charges against anyone who damages national security by disclosing such information.

As the Criminal Court prepares to deliver a verdict in the royal defamation trial against human rights lawyer Anon Nampa next Tuesday (26 September), the South Korea-based May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a statement expressing concern about freedom of expression in Thailand.