26-9-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s judiciary handed down a landmark verdict on Tuesday, sentencing Arnon Nampa, a prominent activist and human rights lawyer, to a four-year prison term for alleged royal insults. This high-profile lese-majeste case has drawn international attention and reignited debates surrounding the country’s stringent laws protecting the monarchy.
Arnon Nampa, aged 39, achieved notoriety for his audacious calls to reform Thailand’s influential monarchy, openly challenging its authority. His vocal stance on this contentious issue made headlines during the pro-democracy protests that swept the nation in 2020, where he advocated for an open public discourse about the role of Thailand’s monarch. Arnon firmly maintains his innocence.
At the core of this case lies Thailand’s lese-majeste law, designed to shield the monarchy from criticism, and which carries the potential of a maximum 15-year prison sentence for each perceived act of royal insult. This legal provision has drawn severe condemnation from international human rights organizations for its perceived extremeness.
Arnon was a prominent figure within the youth-led democracy movement that orchestrated massive protests in Bangkok in 2020. These protests attracted hundreds of thousands of participants who called for the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a staunch royalist, and former coup leader.
Arnon’s conviction stems from remarks he made about the monarchy during a speech at a 2020 rally, marking the first of 14 cases filed against him for breaching Article 112 of the Thai criminal code, also known as the royal insults law.
Arnon’s legal team, led by lawyer Krisadang Nutcharus, has expressed their intent to secure bail for their client. They also plan to lodge an appeal and are prepared to escalate the case to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Arnon, who had been out on bail since early last year, remained at the court after the verdict, awaiting the outcome of the bail request.
Thailand has witnessed a surge in cases filed under Article 112, one of the world’s strictest royal insult laws. Some offenders have received lengthy prison terms, with even a 64-year-old woman sentenced to 43 years for violating the law. It’s worth noting that the palace generally refrains from commenting on the legal proceedings related to royal matters.
The verdict against Arnon constitutes a setback for groups advocating for amendments to Article 112, a proposition that was almost unthinkable just a few years ago in a country where the constitution dictates that the king is “enthroned in a position of revered worship.”
Calls for revising this law were central to the platform of Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party, which secured an election victory in May. However, efforts to form a government were thwarted by lawmakers supported or appointed by the staunchly royalist military.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a legal aid group, at least 257 individuals have been charged under Article 112 in the past three years, with the majority of cases linked to the youth-led democracy movement, which has somewhat waned in influence after posing a substantial challenge to Thailand’s traditional royalist establishment.
As Arnon Nampa faced the prospect of imprisonment, he expressed no regrets and underlined his unwavering commitment to the principles he has espoused. In his words, “The youth protest has created a phenomenon that has changed Thailand to the point of no return. I believe that the people are becoming more confident in their freedom and equality and are ready to transform the country to be more progressive.” This verdict resonates with the broader narrative of change and activism that has gripped Thailand’s political landscape in recent years.
