He was accused of insulting Thailand’s king. Now he has to spend four years in prison
BANGKOK — A prominent Thai human rights lawyer was convicted Tuesday of insulting the king and sentenced to four years in prison, the first conviction under a controversial law protecting the monarchy since a civilian government took office after years of military-backed rule.
Arnon Nampa was found guilty of defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn during an Oct. 14, 2020, student-led rally commemorating a popular uprising in 1973 that led to the fall of a decade-long military dictatorship. Arnon was also fined about $550 for violating an emergency decree banning large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arnon, 39, still faces 13 more cases under the lèse-majesté 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 the king. The court said that the 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 would 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 lost his freedom, his struggle for democracy was worth it. He was accompanied by his wife, son and father. About 20 other people came to Bangkok Criminal Court to express their solidarity.
Thailand’s king has reduced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison term from eight years to one after Thaksin’s return to the country.
“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.
A YouTube chef who is the son of two Spanish film stars has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of murdering and dismembering a Colombian surgeon.
Critics say the lèse-majesté 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 the 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 lèse-majesté law.
The populist Pheu Thai party, which ran second in the election, 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 lèse-majesté law to win support for its rule.
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