In a reply to a communication from UN Special Rapporteurs, the Thai government said that the royal defamation law warrants severe penalties as it protects the monarchy and national security.  It also stated that the Constitutional Court is independent and will make its decision in accordance with established law and the Constitution.

Ahead of the 7 August Constitutional Court ruling on the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), Somchai Preechasilpakul from Chiang Mai University discussed the Court’s role in political party dissolution and expressed hope that its ruling will not inflict more wounds on Thai society.

Ahead of the Constitutional Court’s verdict on a petition seeking to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP), the Party has defended itself, asserting that the Court does not have the authority to order dissolution, and that the Election Commission (EC)’s petition is unlawful.

Ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling this Wednesday (7 August) on the dissolution of the Move Forward Party over their proposal to amend the royal defamation, or lèse-majesté, law, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) calls upon those exercising de facto power in Thailand to refrain from politicising the courts as an instrument to silence parliamentarians on charges that contravene universal democratic principles, for their political longevity and motivation. APHR encourages the Constitutional Court to consult the Venice Commission's guidelines on the prohibition and dissolution of political parties, which states that dissolution of a political party should only be used as a last resort in extreme cases.

Student activist Parit Chiwarak has been sentenced to 2 years in prison on a royal defamation charge for a Facebook post made on 28 July 2021.

A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison for royal defamation over his Facebook posts questioning the monarchy’s tax spending.

The Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases on Wednesday (24 July) found Bell (pseudonym), a 20-year-old student activist, guilty of royal defamation for posts made on the Facebook group of local activist groups in November 2020 and gave him a 1 year and 6 month suspended prison sentence.

Human Rights lawyer Anon Nampa was found guilty yesterday (25 July) of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for two Facebook posts made in January and February 2021 criticizing the King’s exercise of power, bringing his cumulative prison sentence for royal defamation to over 14 years.

Activists in Chiang Mai have filed petitions addressed to the President of the Supreme Court, the Region 5 Chief Justice, and the Move Forward Party calling for bail for political prisoners detained for royal defamation.

Activist Shinawat Chankrajang has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison over a royal defamation charge related to a speech he gave about the King’s property during a protest. The case is his 8th royal defamation charge and he is currently facing a total of 15 years and 24 months in prison.

On 25 July, the Criminal Court will deliver its verdict in the fourth royal defamation case against human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa for a number of Facebook posts criticizing the King’s exercise of power. During the 24 June hearing, Anon affirmed his adherence to the principle that “the King can do no wrong” and asserted that the content of his posts was based on fact.

Protesters gathered in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court on Sunday (14 July) in memory of activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who died in detention two months ago following a long hunger strike.