Ahead of the expected verdict on Thursday (20 July), Amnesty International calls on the Thai authorities to drop a royal defamation charge against Noppasin Treelayapewat, who was charged for taking part in a mock fashion show when he was 16 years old.

At 14, Thanalop Phalanchai became one of the youngest people ever charged with royal defamation. At 15, she was arrested and held in pre-trial detention, making her the youngest person to ever be detained on a royal defamation charge. Her arrest and detention raised questions about the Thai juvenile justice system and whether it is serving the best interests of the country’s children.

A Facebook user charged with royal defamation for posting a picture of King Vajiralongkorn changing the seasonal decoration of the Emerald Buddha, edited so that the Buddha is wearing a dress, has been found guilty and sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

The Criminal Court has postponed the witness examination hearings in the royal defamation trial of activist and MP designate Chonticha Jangrew, claiming that it has just discovered her lawyer’s schedule in its own case information system.

A major satellite and cable TV provider appears to have blocked the broadcasts about the Thai election of several overseas news agencies, according to reports on social media and eyewitness accounts.