<p>As Covid-19 infections spread in pubs and bars, 9 people who gave speeches at the 27 March protest at Ratchaprasong intersection have been charged with violating the Emergency Decree.</p>

<p>Phonphimon (last name withheld), a 22-year-old online vendor from Chiang Mai, faces a royal defamation charge and a charge under the Computer Crimes Act for a Facebook post made in October 2020 and is currently still in detention.</p>

<p>Activist Piyarat &ldquo;Toto&rdquo; Chongthep was immediately re-arrested on a royal defamation charge under Section 112, Thailand&rsquo;s lèse majesté law, after he was granted bail on a criminal organization charge and released from Bangkok Remand Prison.</p>

<p>For the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), to be held in November 2021, <a href="https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/">Scholars at Risk (SAR)</a> has submitted a report to the Working Group, detailing the worsening situation for academic freedom and freedom of expression in Thailand.</p>

<p>The public prosecutor has postponed until 13 May 2021 the hearing of 13 people involved in the <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/8881">protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok</a> on 26 October 2020, as the prosecutor has yet to finish the paperwork needed to file the case against the protesters.</p>

<p>Chukiat &lsquo;Justin&rsquo; Saengwong, a pro-democracy protester, was arrested at night on 22 March on a charge of royal defamation and taken into police custody awaiting a court decision on bail. The court then allow the police request for temporary detention.</p>

<p>Activist Parit Chiwarak read out a statement during a hearing questioning the court&#39;s decision to reject bail for those who were charged with the royal defamation law and declaring that he would be fasting as an act of protest against the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Section 112 of Thailand&rsquo;s Criminal Code, which criminalises defamation, insults, and threats to members of the monarchy, is fundamentally incompatible with the right to freedom of expression, said ARTICLE 19 in a&nbsp;briefing published today.</p>

<p>On 24 February, the Facebook page of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paritchiwarakofficial/posts/283661663121426">Parit &lsquo;Penguin&rsquo; Chiwarak</a> released another letter he has written from prison, where he is being held after being denied bail while he awaits trial for lèse majesté. This letter is addressed &lsquo;From the prison to the palace&rsquo; and speaks to the king directly.</p>

<p>Tiwagorn Withiton, a Facebook user who went viral in 2020 for posting a picture of himself wearing a shirt printed with &ldquo;I lost faith in the monarchy,&rdquo; was arrested again this morning (4 March) by around 20 police officers.</p>

<p>Chaiamorn &lsquo;Ammy&rsquo; Kaewwiboonpan, lead singer of the pop band The Bottom Blues, is among 3 people against whom the police have requested an arrest warrant for lèse majesté, arson and computer crimes over the burning of a King Rama X big portrait in front of Klong Prem Central prison on the night of 27 February.</p>

<p>Four protest leaders currently in detention pending trial have been denied bail for a third time after spending the past 14 days at Bangkok Remand Prison.</p>