Threatened with Imprisonment: Notable Thai Human Rights Lawyer Accused of Offending King

BANGKOK (AP) — In a landmark ruling, a well-known Thai human rights lawyer has been found guilty of insulting the monarchy and has been sentenced to four years in prison. This is the first conviction under the controversial law that protects the royal institution since a civilian government came into power after years of military-backed rule.

The lawyer, Arnon Nampa, was charged with defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a student-led rally on October 14, 2020. The rally was held to commemorate a popular uprising in 1973 that resulted in the removal of a military dictatorship that had ruled for ten years. In addition to the prison sentence, Arnon was also fined 20,000 baht ($550) for violating an emergency decree that prohibited large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arnon, who is 39 years old, still faces 13 more cases under the lese majeste law, which imposes penalties of up to 15 years in prison for insulting the monarch, his immediate family, or the regent.

The court stated in its verdict that Arnon had falsely declared at the rally that the order to disperse the crowd would come from King Maha Vajiralongkorn himself. The court argued that the decision to disperse the crowd would actually be made by the police, and therefore, Arnon’s statement defamed the king.

Arnon’s lawyer, Kritsadang Nutcharat, stated that his client would appeal the decision and request bail. Before being taken away to prison, Arnon hugged his son. In a statement to reporters prior to entering the courtroom, Arnon expressed his belief that the fight for freedom is worth pursuing, even if it means losing his own freedom. He was accompanied by his wife, son, and father, and was supported by around 20 other individuals who gathered outside the Bangkok Criminal Court to show solidarity.

“The new generation’s movement has brought about an irreversible change for the country,” Arnon said. “I hope that the fight of the new generation will truly transform the nation.”

Arnon was recently honored with the 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by a South Korean foundation for his pro-democracy work. He has been one of the leading voices calling for reform of the monarchy and has accused the government of using spyware to monitor his mobile devices.

The Thai monarchy has long been considered a key aspect of Thai society, and criticism of it has been considered taboo. Conservative sectors, particularly the military and courts, consider the monarchy to be untouchable. However, public discourse on the topic has gained traction in recent years, especially among young people.

Critics argue that the lese majeste law is frequently utilized to suppress political dissent. Since November 2020, at least 257 people, including 20 minors, have been charged in 278 cases under this law, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Opposition to reforming the monarchy was highlighted after Thailand’s general election in May, which marked the end of the nearly decade-long rule of Prayuth Chan-ocha, who initially seized power in a military coup in 2014.

Although the progressive Move Forward Party won the most seats in the election, it was denied power by Parliament. Conservative members of the military-installed Senate, which shares the responsibility of choosing the prime minister with the elected House of Representatives, voted against party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s appointment due to his party’s call for moderate reform of the lese majeste law.

Following this, the populist Pheu Thai party, which came in second in the election, formed a coalition with military-backed parties and successfully formed a new government with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. To secure support for its rule, Pheu Thai pledged not to amend the lese majeste law.