Four prominent pro-democracy activists, jailed for violating the kingdom’s royal defamation law, were denied bail on Tuesday. The activists were charged after they called for a movement for reforms to the monarchy in the nation governed by former army chief Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha. 

Thousands have protested against the government in Thailand in the last year, with many calling for changes to the nation’s once unassailable royal family. Due to harsh lese majeste laws in Thailand, criticism of the monarchy is taboo as one can be jailed for up to 15 years in jail, too. 

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Over 50 protesters have been charged in Thailand since anti-government protests started in July, however, all were given bail. But in a first, the four activists, prominent faces of the protests who have also been charged with sedition, were indicted at Bangkok’s Criminal Court and were denied bail, reports AFP. 

The activists’ lawyer said that the court denied bail as the case is “with high penalties, and the defendants may repeat the actions.” Under sedition charges, the activities can spend a maximum penalty of seven years in jail. They have also been charged for violating anti-gathering rules and other laws. 

The activists, who will undergo a pre-trial investigation before they formally stand trial, include Parit Chiwarak aka Penguin, and human rights lawyer Anon Numpa, who both are arguably the two most well-known faces of the movement, reports AFP. 

Protesters in Thailand have demanded the abolition of the royal defamation law as critics have argued that it is often used to silence dissent and opposition leaders. 

Amid coronavirus fear and partial lockdown in Bangkok, the movement has been slowed in recent months, however, following the indictment of the leaders, activists on Tuesday called for an impromptu gathering in downtown city.