April 2026 saw no new cases concerning public assembly and political expression for the last two months. Nonetheless, of 1,346 cases in which members of the public have been indicted, 527 cases are pending in various stages of the judicial process and rulings have constantly been made each month. For rulings on cases concerning public […]
In February 2026, there were four additional political cases relating to freedom of expression. The first set of cases concerns cases related to the 2026 national election: Tewa Sritawan’s case, stemming from throwing a bag of fermented fish against the walls of the Election Commission; another case; and a case concerning a citizen charged for […]
In November 2025, one new case related to public assembly and political expression was recorded. The case involves “Phakphum,” a person diagnosed with schizophrenia, who was charged under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Flag Act for posting photographs and videos depicting him stepping on and urinating on a royal portrait, as well […]
October 2025 saw no new cases related to public assembly or political expression compared to September 2025. However, four youths and one individual in Roi Et have been charged for violating the Emergency Decree for participating in the Kabuan Saded Car Mob which took place in 2021. Summons have been issued since the incident occurred. […]
“No citizen should be forced to engage with a system that promotes violence or goes against their moral or ethical beliefs…Thailand’s conscription system has enabled corruption, abuse, and unchecked military power for far too long,” said Thai student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, not only rejecting the draft but also declaring that no government should compel a […]
Ms. Ursula von der Leyen President European Commission Brussels, Belgium Mr. Maroš Šefčovič Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security European Commission European Commission Brussels, Belgium 27 September 2025 Re: Trade Must Advance, not Undermine, Human Rights Dear President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, In a few days, the European Union and Thailand […]
Dr. Paul Chambers, an American academic whose research specializes in civil-military relations in Southeast Asia, was detained on lèse majesté charges and the Computer Crimes Act by Thai authorities in April 2025. The charges stemmed from allegations that Dr. Chambers posted a blurb for a webinar—hosted by Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, where he was a […]
February 20, 2024, marked Lawyer’s Day in Thailand, and at the SCC Creative Space in Bangkok (BTS Ratchathewi), a seminar titled “The Role of Lawyers in Protecting Human Rights” was held. The event also launched the book “Feathers on the Scales: 10 Interviews on the Life and Experiences of Human Rights Lawyers” which tells the […]
On 23 January 2025, at the Pattani Provincial Court, a prosecutor from the Office of Criminal Litigation 4 Region 9 issued an indictment order against nine Muslim activists on charges under Sections 116 (sedition), 209 (secret society), and 210 (conspiracy) of the Criminal Code, as well as the Emergency Decree. These charges stemmed from their […]
In August, there were at least two news cases under Section 112 and two additional detainees. Meanwhile, the Court of First Instance dismissed one more case under the Public Assembly Act, making the trend of verdicts for such cases even more interesting. At the police and prosecutorial levels, preparations for indictments under the Emergency Decree […]
On 28 August 2024, human rights defenders (HRDs) from Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) met with the diplomatic community at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok to provide briefing about the ongoing criminal proceedings against the HRDs for exercising their right to freedom expression. The meeting was attended by […]
In July, political prosecutions continued, with one new case each under Section 112 and the Public Assembly Act. At least three additional individuals have been detained in connection with Section 112 cases, including those who were denied bail during appeals and those whose cases have reached final judgments. Additionally, there have been rulings in significant […]
