<p>Student activist Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon has been indicted on a royal defamation charge related to a speech she gave at a protest on 24 March 2021, in which she said that the monarchy must reform itself in order to survive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prachatai&rsquo;s Facebook page has been found on the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES)&rsquo;s list of sites that spread fake news, which also includes Facebook pages for activists and activist groups, as well as other online news sites.</p>

<p>Two reporters have filed a lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police, after they were <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9348">injured with rubber bullets</a> while covering the 18 July 2021 protest.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9344">Prasong Khotsongkhram</a>, who was arrested on 8 July and detained on royal defamation charges, has been granted bail after spending 27 days in prison.</p>

<p>The use of force to crack down on protests and arrests of protesters show that the state wants to suppress dissenters and create a climate of fears, says Amnesty International, who calls for the repeal of the Emergency Decree.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An Amnesty International staff member has been fined along with three other speakers and a panel moderator for taking part in a <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9329">panel discussion on enforced disappearance</a> on 4 July 2021.</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 public prosecutor decided today (22 July) to indict 13 protesters facing lèse majesté and sedition charges for their involvement in the 26 October 2020 protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok.</p>

<p>19-year-old rapper Danupha Khanatheerakul, known under her stage name Milli, received a fine after she was charged with defamation for posting on her Twitter account criticism of the government.</p>

<p>As Thai authorities imposed strict virus prevention measures in Bangkok and nine provinces from Monday, Amnesty International calls on authorities to use these restrictions solely to address worsening rates of Covid-19 infection and not to&nbsp;arbitrarily or disproportionately penalise individuals for peacefully exercising their rights.</p>

<p>Following a launch on 1 July, a new exhibition showcasing political cartoons by artists from 5 ASEAN countries is now online and will be on display until 31 July.</p>