<p>Thanapol Eawsakul, editor-in-chief of the political academic publisher Same Sky Books, was arrested on Wednesday evening (29 June) on charges of procuring and sharing national secrets and violation of the Computer Crimes Act.</p>

<p>The Constitutional Court has denied a request to copy several documents used as evidence in the ruling that protesters&rsquo; calls for monarchy reform is treasonous, claiming national security, says <a href="https://tlhr2014.com/archives/38968">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).</a></p>

<p>Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha issued on Thursday (29 July) a new order under the Emergency Decree banning distribution of information causing public fear or misinformation.</p>

<p>The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) says that the government has withdrawn a controversial Official Information Bill from the Cabinet for reconsideration.</p>

<p>The Cabinet has approved a major amendment to the 24-year-old Official Information Act. While some flaws have been fixed, there is a new, huge loophole that allows the authorities more excuse not to disclose information to the public and even criminalizes disclosure.</p>

<p>Following a request from Prachatai for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to disclose information concerning the investigation into the cases of the victims of the Red Shirt protest crackdowns, the Official Information Commission has ordered the DSI to disclose the information.</p>

<p>The Thai authorities are prosecuting social media users who criticize the government and monarchy in a systematic campaign to crush dissent which is being exacerbated by new COVID-19 restrictions, Amnesty International said in a new report released today.</p>

<p>Thailand is ranked 140th in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)&rsquo;s <a href="https://rsf.org/en/2020-world-press-freedom-index-entering-decisive-decade-journalism-exacerbated-coronavirus">2020 World Press Freedom Index</a>, four places below its 2019 ranking at 136th, while hyper-control and nationalist populism threaten press freedom in the Asia-Pacific.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ICJ today called on States in Southeast Asia to respect and protect human rights online and offline, in accordance with their obligations under international law, as they take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19. It urged States to ensure that avoiding adverse impacts on the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, information and privacy are front and center when implementing measures to counter misinformation about the virus.</p>

<p>In a <a href="https://www.tlhr2014.com/?p=16785&amp;lang=en">statement</a> released on Monday (30 March), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) says that while they find that it is necessary for the state to &ldquo;impose measures&rdquo; to control the spread of COVID-19, it finds that the Emergency Decree, in effect from 26 March to 30 April, &ldquo;contains provisions which significantly restrict people&rsquo;s rights and freedom,&rdquo; especially freedom of expression, press freedom, and freedom of movement, raising concerns about the necessity and proportionality of the measures issued under the decree.</p>

<p>The Thai government should ensure that the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation (2005) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic does not impose unwarranted restrictions on human rights, Amnesty International said today.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.article19.org/resources/thailand-emergency-measures-threaten-human-rights/">ARTICLE 19</a> and <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/25/thailand-covid-19-clampdown-free-speech">Human Rights Watch (HRW)</a> have issued statements following the announcement of <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/8429">emergency measures</a> by the Thai government yesterday (26 March), raising concern over how these measures may threaten freedom of expression and access to information.</p>