The month of October resulted in one of the highest number of verdicts in one month, 16 in total, coming from both the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeals in lese-majeste cases. Meanwhile, three more people prosecuted for political reasons have ended up in detention. In Chiang Mai, a military officer accused activists […]
(Data as of 3 October 2023.) In September, we witnessed an increase in the number of people detained in lèse-majesté cases due to their political expression, even though their cases have not concluded. In the course of one month, the Court of First Instance has passed verdicts in 4 cases and the Court of Appeals […]
[Information as of 5 August 2023.] In light of the problematic formation of the new government, citizens have gathered to call upon the Senate, political parties, and independent organizations to respect their voices. As such, it became imperative to monitor how the laws would be used in response to these activities. In July 2023, the […]
In June, while only few new politically-motivated lawsuits emerged, the trials of many existing ones proceeded in full swing. The courts have issued verdicts for at least 12 lese-majeste cases within a course of merely one month acquitting, convicting (imprisonment), or suspending the punishment of the defendants. As a result, two more people in these […]
Columbia Law School On June 13, school administrators expelled 15-year-old Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai from Triam Udom Suksa Phatthakan School. She is the youngest child known to have been charged with Thailand’s lese-majeste law to date. In a statement later released by the school, Yok’s expulsion was solely because she failed to enroll by the agreed […]
On June 28, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., the Criminal Court scheduled a hearing in the case of five activists, namely Ekachai Hongkangwan, Boonkueanun Paothong, Suranat Paenprasert and two other people charged for an assault on the Queen’s liberty. The combined charges include Section 110 of the Criminal Code for violations against the Queen or her […]
On 1 and 2 June 2023, the examination of prosecution witnesses in a trial of the prominent political activists and Move Forward MP-elect Chonthicha Jaengraew at the Ratchada Criminal Court proceeded in the absence of the defense lawyer and despite Ms. Chonthicha’s request that the hearings be postponed until her lawyer is available to attend […]
On 7 March 2023, the Taling Chan Criminal Court convicted “Tonmai” (alias)—a 26-year-old lawyer in a private company—under Section 112 (lèse-majesté) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 3 years in prison for mocking and defaming the King by delivering calendars with cartoons of a yellow duck to the buyers. His sentence was decreased […]
One month into the 2023, the situation related to political prosecution continues to be in full swing, especially as the court revoked the bails of “Baipor – Get” accused of lèse-majestélaw. The event is followed by the self-revocation of bail by “Tawan – Bam”, which has generated a debate on the topics of the right […]
In the morning of 23 January 2023, the lawyers traveled to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution to visit “Tawan” Tantawan Tuatulanon and “Bam” Orrawan (last name withheld) who are entering their 6th day of dry fasting. The lawyers learned that, on the night of 22 January 2023, Tawan was so weak to the extent that she fainted in […]
On 9 January 2023, the Bangkok Criminal Court revoked “Get” Sopon Surariddhidhamrong and “Baipor” Natthanit Duangmusit’s bail and ordered their detention on the ground that they violated the bail conditions of their temporary release, granted on 31 May 2022 and 4 August 2022, respectively, by participating in the anti-government protest on 17 November 2022, during […]
There was not a significant increase in the number of political cases during the last month of 2022. That said, the courts steadily passed judgments for the cases involving protests and expressions in 2020 and 2021. Among these were at least 6 lèse-majesté cases and 12 Emergency Decree cases in this month alone. Meanwhile, the […]
