An activist has been charged with royal defamation over a speech given during a protest on 14 July at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), which took place following attempts to disqualify Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and block his bid to become the next Prime Minister.

The Central Juvenile and Family Court on Thursday (20 July) found activist Noppasin Treelayapewat guilty of royal defamation for wearing a crop top to a mock fashion show during a protest in October 2020, when he was 16 years old.

Ahead of the expected verdict on Thursday (20 July), Amnesty International calls on the Thai authorities to drop a royal defamation charge against Noppasin Treelayapewat, who was charged for taking part in a mock fashion show when he was 16 years old.

A letter from several UN bodies was released on 4 July, raising concerns about the prosecution and detention of 15-year-old activist Thanalop Phalanchai for royal defamation and asking for explanations from the Thai government.

At 14, Thanalop Phalanchai became one of the youngest people ever charged with royal defamation. At 15, she was arrested and held in pre-trial detention, making her the youngest person to ever be detained on a royal defamation charge. Her arrest and detention raised questions about the Thai juvenile justice system and whether it is serving the best interests of the country’s children.

The denial of bail for two people found guilty of royal defamation this June has brought the number of political prisoners in Thailand to 17. Of this number, 10 are detained following a final verdict from the Supreme Court or after a decision not to appeal. The remaining 7 are detained pending trial or appeal, 4 of whom on royal defamation charges.

A 60-year-old man from Phuket has been sentenced today (26 June) to 9 years in prison, suspended for 2 years, on a royal defamation charge over several Facebook posts made in 2021.

The Criminal Court has postponed the witness examination hearings in the royal defamation trial of activist and MP designate Chonticha Jangrew, claiming that it has just discovered her lawyer’s schedule in its own case information system.

The Criminal Court has insisted on continuing witness examination in the royal defamation trial of activist Chonticha Jangrew, now MP designate for the Move Forward Party, despite her lawyer being unavailable to attend the hearing.

A major satellite and cable TV provider appears to have blocked the broadcasts about the Thai election of several overseas news agencies, according to reports on social media and eyewitness accounts. 

A teenager has been indicted for royal defamation after a prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General ruled that burning a portrait of the King is the same as burning the King himself.