Current:Home > reviewsProminent Thai human rights lawyer accused of insulting the king receives a 4-year prison term -FutureWise Finance
Prominent Thai human rights lawyer accused of insulting the king receives a 4-year prison term
View
Date:2025-04-15 19:55:46
BANGKOK (AP) — A prominent Thai human rights lawyer was convicted on Tuesday of insulting the monarchy and sentenced to four years in prison, the first conviction under a controversial law guarding the royal institution since a civilian government took office after years of military-backed rule.
Arnon Nampa was found guilty of defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a student-led rally on Oct. 14, 2020, that commemorated a popular uprising in 1973 that led to the fall of a decade-long military dictatorship. He was also fined 20,000 baht ($550) for violating an emergency decree banning large public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Arnon, 39, still faces 13 more cases under the lese majeste law, which makes insulting the monarch, his immediate family and the regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The court said in its ruling Tuesday that Arnon had declared at the rally that if it were dispersed, it would be at the order of King Maha Vajiralongkon. It said that statement was false because such actions would be up to the police to decide, and that Arnon had therefore defamed the king.
Arnon’s lawyer, Kritsadang Nutcharat, said his client will appeal and seek bail. Arnon hugged his son before being taken away to be jailed.
Arnon told reporters before entering the courtroom that even if he loses his freedom, his struggle is worth fighting for. He was accompanied by his wife, son and father. About 20 other people came to Bangkok Criminal Court to express their solidarity.
“The movement of the new generation created a phenomenon of change for the country in a way that cannot be turned back,” Arnon said. “I want the fight of the new generation to truly change the country.”
Arnon was awarded the 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by a South Korean foundation for his pro-democracy work.
He was among the first people to publicly call for reform of the monarchy and has remained one of the most vocal advocates of the movement. Earlier this year he accused the government of using internationally notorious Pegasus spyware to monitor his mobile devices.
The monarchy has long been considered a pillar of Thai society and criticism of it has been taboo. Conservative Thais, especially in the military and courts, still consider it untouchable. However, public debate on the topic has recently grown louder, particularly among young people.
Critics say the lese majeste law is often used to quash political dissent. At least 257 people have been charged in 278 cases since November 2020, including at least 20 minors, according to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
Opposition to reform of the monarchy was highlighted after Thailand’s general election in May which ended the nearly decade-long rule of Prayuth Chan-ocha, who initially took power in a 2014 military coup.
The progressive Move Forward Party won the most seats in the election but was denied power by Parliament. Conservative members of the military-installed Senate, which picks the prime minister together with the elected House of Representatives, voted to block party leader Pita Limjaroenrat from taking the post, citing his party’s call for a mild reform of the lese majeste law.
The populist Pheu Thai party, which ran second in the election, then formed a coalition with military-backed parties and succeeded in forming a new government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Pheu Thai pledged not to touch the lese majeste law to win support for its rule.
veryGood! (262)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- National Folk Festival to be held in Mississippi’s capital from 2025 through 2027
- Police arrest 2 in minibike gang attack on 'Beverly Hills, 90210' actor Ian Ziering
- Pack of feral dogs fatally maul 9-year-old South Dakota boy, officials say
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Families of Uvalde school shooting victims announce $2M settlement, lawsuit against Texas DPS
- My dying high school writing teacher has one more lesson. Don't wait to say thank you.
- Israel says it will return video equipment seized from The Associated Press, hours after shutting down AP's Gaza video feed
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Families of Uvalde school shooting victims announce $2M settlement, lawsuit against Texas DPS
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Patrick Mahomes Breaks Silence on Chiefs Teammate Harrison Butker's Commencement Speech
- City strikes deal to sell its half of soon-to-be-former Oakland A’s coliseum
- Who won 'Jeopardy! Masters'? After finale, tournament champ (spoiler) spills all
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- 'We're not going out of business': As Red Lobster locations close, chain begins outreach
- The Try Guys is down another host as Eugene Lee Yang departs YouTube group
- FACT FOCUS: Trump distorts use of ‘deadly force’ language in FBI document for Mar-a-Lago search
Recommendation
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Former University of Arizona grad student found guilty of murder in campus shooting of professor
Olympian Mary Lou Retton Responds to Backlash Over Her Daughters Crowdsourcing Her Medical Funds
Uvalde school shooting victims' families announce $2 million settlement with Texas city and new lawsuits
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
National Folk Festival to be held in Mississippi’s capital from 2025 through 2027
Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed, with China stocks down, after Wall St retreat
Kyle Larson faces additional obstacles to completing historic IndyCar/NASCAR double Sunday