<p>On 11 April, the Appeal Court has dismissed the charges against four activists and a Prachatai journalist, after they were charged with violating the Public Referendum Act for distributing stickers persuading the people to reject the constitution draft in 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<div> <div>A court in Ratchaburi has acquitted a Prachatai journalist and four activists of violating the Referendum Act. The journalist faced charges for merely reporting on the anti-referendum campaign.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 29 January 2018, the Ratchaburi Provincial Court acquitted Prachatai journalist Taweesak Kerdpoka and the other four activists from the New Democracy Movement. </div></div>

<div>On 29 January, Ratchaburi Provincial Court will announce the verdict in the case of 4 activists and 1 Prachatai journalist who were accused of allegedly violating the Referendum Act by giving moral support to villagers in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province in the case of the activists, and by reporting on the incident by the Prachatai journalist. Prachatai invites readers to review the proceedings of a case that has been going on for around a year, as well as the demands for a democratic referendum from organizations fighting for human rights and media freedom.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<div> <div>Amnesty International Thailand organised the 2017 Media Awards on Thursday 25th January 2018 at the Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok. The four award categories covered print media, online media, and television.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Chair of Amnesty International Thailand, explained that the event was organised out of respect for the role of the media in observing human rights principles and creating human rights awareness in our society. </div></div>

<div>Although the Constitution supposedly guarantees the right to bail, it is as if that right does not exist for a lèse majesté suspect. In the case of Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa, the court seemed to improvise the reason for revoking bail beyond what the law allows, an expert says.</div> <p></p>

<div>Between 21-24 March 2017, Ratchaburi Provincial Court will hold witness hearings for and against <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/6516">the criminal case of Taweesak Kerdpoka</a>, 25, a Prachatai journalist. </div>

<p>Sexual release is a basic human need but it has always been subject to social norms, law and morality. In Thai prisons, regulations place even the internal needs of inmates under the state&rsquo;s vigorous control.But the state can never fully control the force of human desire. Sexual activities happen in the everyday reality of prison life, though consensual sexual activities are largely limited to partners of the same sex. Sexual activities in prisons occur both among lovers and as pragmatic commerce.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<div><em>&quot;That week I could visit him only once. Pai asked me if I had changed my mind about him. He said like he is a prisoner already but he said I&rsquo;m still young and still have a better future than this.&quot;</em></div><div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>A Prachatai journalist and four pro-democracy activists who were indicted for distributing leaflets against the junta-backed draft charter, have insisted on fighting their case for the cause of freedom of expression.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div>On 21 September 2016, Ratchaburi Provincial Court held a conciliation session in the case of Taweesak Kerdpoka, a Prachatai journalist, and four anti-junta activists. </div></div>

<p dir="ltr">Public prosecutors have indicted a Prachatai journalist and four anti-junta activists over leaflets allegedly campaigning against the junta-sponsored draft constitution. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">At the Provincial Court of Ratchaburi Province on Monday morning, 29 August 2016, the prosecutors formally indicted Taweesak Kerdpoka, a Prachatai journalist, and four anti-junta New Democracy Movement (NDM) activists: Pakorn Areekul, Anucha Rungmorakot, Anan Loked, and Phanuwat Songsawadchai, a student activist from Maejo University, Phrae campus.</p>

<p>A statement has been released following the arrest of a Prachatai reporter, and the subsequent search of Prachatai’s office, with concerns of the precedent against media freedom that could be set by these actions.<br /><br />On 13 July 2016, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) released a statement raising concerns of the arrest of Prachatai reporter Taweesak Kerdpoka.<br /></p>

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