The Appeal Court ruled yesterday (17 October) not to lift the ban on Rap Against Dictatorship (RAD)’s song “Reform,” claiming that the song incites people to express their opinion without respect for the law and may upset royalists.

<p>On 7 July, Patiroob (reform), a Rap Against Dictatorship (R.A.D.) song, was again blocked on YouTube as a result of a Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) petition to the Court that it should be prohibited under the terms of the Computer Crime Act.</p>

<p>November has seen a crackdown on freedom of movement as the Thai authorities have reportedly requested the Department of Consular Affairs to revoke the passports of 13 Thai activists and hastily expelled a foreigner who made fun of the government and monarchy.</p>

<p>The music video for Rap Against Dictatorship (RAD)&rsquo;s latest song &ldquo;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJufERGv9Sk&amp;feature=youtu.be">Reform</a>&rdquo; has been blocked on YouTube&rsquo;s Thai domain due to a &ldquo;legal complaint from the government.</p>

<p>The anti-military rap group Rap Against Dictatorship has been declared one of the three winners of the 2019 Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent, which will be presented on 29 May at the Oslo Freedom Forum.&nbsp;</p>