A Thailand court imposed Thursday an additional four-year imprisonment on an activist and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa for defaming the Thai royal family and violating the Computer Crime Act through two social media posts made between January and April 2021.
The court found Arnon guilty of using Facebook in early 2021 to disseminate false claims that King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as King Rama X, was directly administering the country. The court ruled this as violating democratic principles and threatening national security. The court initially sentenced Arnon to six years, three years for each charge, but reduced the sentence to four years due to his cooperation and the usefulness of his evidence during the trial.
This verdict, Arnon’s fourth on similar charges, raises his total prison term to 14 years, with 10 more cases still pending. Arnon has been held at Bangkok Remand Prison since his first sentencing on 26 September 2023 for a speech at a rally advocating for monarchy reform. Arnon received his second conviction and four more years of imprisonment for violating lèse-majesté law by misrepresenting King Maha and accusing him of misusing national resources and lavish spending on social media.
Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code provides that individuals who “defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, heir-apparent, or regent” can be liable to a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment per conviction. This provision is part of Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws, classified under section 7 of the Thai Criminal Code as offences against the security of the kingdom.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) has voiced concern over using lèse-majesté charges against activists like Arnon. OHCHR stated in March, “criticism and speeches about reforming the monarchy to support human rights should be protected and promoted in a democratic society.” OHCHR continued, “we call on the Thai authorities to reverse the verdict and drop all remaining charges against Arnon Nampa.”
UN experts have repeatedly found that Article 112 is inconsistent with international human rights laws:
Harsh sentences for those defending human rights and exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are incompatible with Thailand’s international legal obligations. They have a chilling effect on human rights defenders, civil society and fundamental rights and freedoms.
As of June 2024, at least 1,954 individuals have faced prosecution for participation in political protests or expressing political opinions since July 2020, according to the recent report released by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). Of these, 272 individuals have been charged under Article 112 in over 300 cases.
Arnon is well-known for his open criticism of the Thai monarchy, a stance that is highly controversial in Thailand. Initially recognized as a human rights defender, Arnon gained prominence for providing legal assistance in sensitive cases and advocating for individuals in vulnerable situations. Over time, his active involvement in pro-democracy movements led to multiple criminal charges. He emerged as a leading figure in the 2021-2021 Thai protests, championing reforms to the monarchy, a historic first led by non-elite citizens.
