33 student organisations and activists groups filed an open letter with the President of the Supreme Court today (3 October) to demand the release of political prisoners detained pending trial or appeal and to call for an end to the prosecution of citizens under the royal defamation law.

At the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s award ceremony for the 2023 Albie Awards, lawyers from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) during their acceptance speech addressed the prosecution and detention of activists charged for political expression.

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.

Amnesty International and other activists gathered at the Central Women Correctional Institution yesterday (18 September) to demand the release of political prisoners detained pending trial or appeal, including Warunee, a woman detained on a royal defamation charge.

11 people are now detained on a royal defamation charge in Thailand. Of this number, 3 are detained following a final verdict or after a decision not to appeal, while 8 are detained pending trial or appeal.

The Appeal Court today (13 September) sentenced former Red Shirt protest guard Sombat Thongyoi to 4 years in prison on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act over 3 Facebook posts he made in 2020.

After 14 days of hunger strike, Warunee, a woman detained pending appeal on a royal defamation charge, has been transferred to the Thammasat University Hospital.

Warunee, a woman detained pending appeal on a royal defamation charge, has gone on a dry fast after 13 days of hunger strike and being denied bail again on Thursday (31 August).

Activist Sopon Surariddhidhamrong has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for a speech during a 22 April 2022 protest in which the court claimed he insulted Queen Suthida.

Warunee, a Facebook user detained pending appeal on a royal defamation charge, has gone on a hunger strike in protest after being repeatedly denied bail.

On 25 April 2023, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that Hin (pseudonym),19, was granted bail by the Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases on appeal after his 4th bail request was rejected on 19 April 2023

After a 15-year-old girl was detained pending trial on a royal defamation charge on Wednesday (29 March), Amnesty International notes how children continue to be targeted by the authorities for dissent and how recent use of the royal defamation law shows the shrinking of civic space in Thailand. They also called for the authorities to drop charges against activists and protesters and refrain from arrest and pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters.