Thailand activist and lawyer Arnon Nampa received his second conviction and four more years of imprisonment Wednesday for a case of royal defamation related to social media posts from 2021. Defamation of Thai royalty is a punishable offence under the Thai Criminal Code, referred to as the lese-majeste law.
According to a report by Nampa’s volunteer organisation, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Nampa has been sentenced to four years in prison by a Criminal Court in the “defamation of the king” case under Section 112 of the Penal Code. Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code states that anyone who defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent, or the Regent could face imprisonment for three to 15 years. The charges stem from three Facebook posts in January 2021 criticising the enforcement of Section 112 against monarchy critics and calling for monarchy reform.
The court found Nampa guilty of falsely portraying Maha Vajiralongkorn, the current monarch of Thailand and known as King Rama X, as misusing the country’s assets and spending extravagantly. Nampa, who denied the charges, argued that his posts targeted the justice system and the monarchy’s role in Thai politics, not specifically King Rama X. This marks Nampa’s second Section 112 conviction; he was previously sentenced to four years for a speech at a rally. With multiple pending cases, Nampa faces 14 charges under Section 112.
Arnon Nampa, a prominent human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist in Thailand, gained attention for discussing the monarchy, a sensitive topic, at an anti-government rally in August 2020. Despite arrest on sedition charges and breaching emergency law, he persisted in advocating for monarchy reform. Born to rice farmers, he began his human rights work in 2006 and became known for defending political prisoners and lese-majeste suspects. Nampa volunteers with TLHR, aiding those accused post the 2014 military coup.
The Thai monarchy, with a history spanning over seven centuries, holds a unique and deeply rooted position in the country. Despite the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, it remains a unifying force for Thailand, commanding respect and serving as a pillar of stability. The monarchy plays a crucial role in Thai identity. It is emphasized that the monarchy is apolitical, standing above politics and maintaining a non-partisan stance. In a constitutional monarchy, the king’s powers are outlined by a constitution, and any engagement is strictly in line with the constitution’s letter and spirit. The king’s prerogatives include the “right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn.”
