The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is calling for court observers at the resumption of the trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of the Prachai website, who is being prosecuted under the Computer Crime Act after her arrest in March 2009. The trial of her case, after it was delayed for a variety of reasons, will again resume on February 14 to 16, 2012 at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

“Tai” or Panitan Prueksakasemsuk, only son of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and a second year student at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, announced last month he would go on a 112-hour hunger strike in front of the Criminal Court, lasting from February 11 to February 16, to call on the judges to “free my Dad.”

International human rights group have jointly sent an open letter to Thailand's Prime Minister and authorities, regarding the trials of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk and Chiranuch Premchaiporn which will resume next week.

By now many Thais might have already decided as to where they stand on the fiercely emotional debate over proposed amendments to the controversial lese majeste law. After all, there are only two choices: will you or won't you sign and support the proposed amendment presented by the Nitirat group of law lecturers? I, for one, have already decided.

Update: Panitan will go on a hunger strike for 112 hours at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Rd on Saturday 11, starting from 4pm. Panitan Prueksakasemsuk, the son of well-known labour activist Somyot who has been incarcerated on lèse majesté charges since late April 2011, has announced he will go on a hunger strike for 112 hours in protest at his father’s ordeal.