Members of the activist group "Ratsadon Chiang Rai" submitted a letter to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, urging the government to expedite bail rights for political detainees, as promised by the Pheu Thai Party during their campaign.

Chiang Mai News reported that members of the group submitted a letter during Prime Minister Srettha's visit to Chiang Rai on 14 July, urging the government to ensure bail for political prisoners and expedite the amnesty program for people facing charges for political expression.

Sarawut Kulmaturapoj, the group's representative, delivered the letter directly to Srettha. He highlighted the case of human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, who is currently detained on charges of royal defamation. The group believes addressing this issue should be prioritised alongside economic problems.

Sarawut told Prachatai in a subsequent interview that bail rights should be straightforward, especially in cases not yet finalised, noting that reasons given by courts when denying bail are not in line with the Criminal Procedure Code. He argued that if the government stepped in to take some action, it could alleviate the challenges associated with bail rights.

The activist said he wanted the government to include royal defamation cases in a proposed political amnesty bill, arguing that such cases are political rather than criminal. He pointed out that persecution under Section 112 often targets people criticising political actions related to the coup led by Prayut Chan-o-cha and other matters related to the monarchy.

“It's undeniable that such prosecutions are politically motivated,” he said.

Sarawut also noted a positive change, in that the group was able to submit the letter to the Prime Minister without facing the intimidation they often encountered under Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s administration.

The Ratsadon Chiang Rai representative concluded, “I want the Prime Minister to fulfil the promises he made before the election, addressing them alongside economic issues. This is a social concern, so the government has no excuse to forget its own words. I am here as a representative of the Thai people to emphasise that there are also political problems which need to be addressed.”

As of July 2024, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that at least 43 people remain in prison for politically-related acts and expressions, including 25 royal defamation cases. This includes at least 22 detainees who have not been granted bail, 2 minors in juvenile detention, and at least 19 individuals serving final sentences.