Parliamentarians and ex-parliamentarians in Southeast Asia continue to be subjected to human rights violations, says new report by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), including in Thailand, where the Move Forward Party is facing judicial harassment following the 2023 general election.

Nattaphon “Yah” Phanphongsanon, a photographer for the online news outlet Spacebar, has been sued for defamation by Senator Seree Suwanpanont, over his coverage of an incident in 2023 where activists distributed leaflets, calling on senators to respect the people’s voice during the last prime ministerial vote.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and CIVICUS has issued a statement raising concerns about the Thai government's prosecution of activists and journalists. They also called the Thai government to drop charges against activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, end its practice of judicial harassment, and review and repeal its repressive laws.

On 5 September 2014, five men were arrested and held in a military camp for questioning. Military officers claimed that they were the "Men in Black" firing war weapons on Tanao Road during the 10 April 2010 crackdown on Red Shirt protests. Although charges against them were later dismissed due to unreliable witness testimony, the men are still left in uncertainty as they have been indicted for terrorism and are to go on trial next year.

The Appeal Court ruled yesterday (20 October) to uphold the Narathiwat Provincial Court’s ruling to sentence a 28-year-old woman to 6 years in prison for royal defamation.

<p>Three members of the monarchy reform activist group Thaluwang were arrested earlier today (22 April) on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act.</p>

<p>Declared 2 years ago to combat the spread of Covid-19, Thailand&rsquo;s State of Emergency has resulted in diminished freedom of expression and assembly. &nbsp;It has also been used as grounds for cracking down on pro-democracy protests and prosecuting activists.</p>

<p>Ravisara Eksgool, who was charged with royal defamation for reading out a statement during the 26 October 2020 protest at the German Embassy, has had her request to leave the country to study overseas denied twice by the South Bangkok Criminal Court over fears that she will flee the country.</p>

<p>11 activists have been charged with violations of the Emergency Decree for joining a protest organized by the People&rsquo;s Movement for Just Society (P-Move), which addressed land rights and community rights.</p>

<p>An 18-year-old homeless man faces 21 charges resulting from protests at the Din Daeng intersection in August &ndash; October 2021.</p>