<p>Voice TV&rsquo;s online platforms are facing suspension after the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) obtained a court order for its suspension, claiming that it has violated the Computer Crimes Act and the order of the chief official under the severe state of emergency.</p>

<p>The Thai authorities have issued an order under the Emergency Decree for an investigation into and possible suspension of four media outlets: Voice TV, Prachatai, The Reporters, and The Standard, as well as the student activist group Free Youth&#39;s Facebook page, for their coverage of the recent protests in Thailand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thousands of people joined a protest at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Thursday evening (15 October) following the crackdown on the protest at the Government House earlier in the day despite the declaration of a severe state of emergency, which bans mass gatherings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;government&rsquo;s declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok is a pretext for a crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/15/thailand-emergency-decree-pretext-crackdown">Human Rights Watch</a> said yesterday (15 October).</p>

<p>Amnesty International issued a call for an urgent action against prosecution of Thai political activists, inviting supporters to submit an appeal to the Thai government demanding that it drops all charges against protesters and end all effort to obstruct peaceful assemblies. The campaign will run until 21 October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>63 people are facing charges under the Emergency Decree for participating in anti-government demonstrations, despite the authorities&rsquo; claim that the Decree is being extended in order to control the spread of Covid-19, says <a href="https://www.tlhr2014.com/?p=20836">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights</a> (TLHR).</p>

<p>Second arrest of student activist Panupong &quot;Mike&quot; Jadnok &quot;reveals&nbsp;the Thai authority&rsquo;s attempts to suppress the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,&quot; says Amnesty International.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and student activist Panupong Jadnok are now under arrest on sedition charges under Section 116 of the Criminal Code and for violating the Emergency Decree after they took part in the <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/8663">mass protest</a> on 18 July. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has proposed to extend the State of Emergency for yet another month, but will no longer ban public gatherings.</p>