List of prosecuted lèse majesté cases in Thailand

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This is the list of prosecuted lèse majesté cases in Thailand.

Notable cases[edit]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Date Person(s) Notes about person(s) Description of the crime and legal proceedings
1984 Sulak Sivaraksa He and other social activists allegedly criticized the king and were charged; Sulak was eventually acquitted.[1]
1995 Lech Tomasz Kisielewicz French national of Polish descent Made an insulting remark about a Thai princess aboard a Thai Airways flight. He was jailed under lèse majesté for two weeks after his flight landed in Bangkok.[2]
May 2008 Jonathan Head BBC correspondent and FCCT vice-president Accused of lèse majesté three times:
  1. authoring articles that referred to alleged support for the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) by members of the royal family,
  2. writing that Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn might find it difficult to "fill his father's shoes", and
  3. allowing a picture of a politician to be placed above a picture of Bhumibol on a BBC web page.[3][4]

He was not deported, but left Thailand at the end of his three-year BBC assignment.

Sep 2008 Harry Nicolaides[5] From Melbourne, Australia Wrote an offending passage in his self-published book Verisimilitude. The book, which sold a mere seven copies, mentioned the "romantic entanglements and intrigues" of royalty.[6] He was arrested upon arriving at Bangkok's international airport[7] and charged with lèse majesté. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to three years in jail[8] but then pardoned by the king after spending a month in jail, released, and deported.[9]
Apr 2009 Daranee "Da Torpedo" Chanchoengsilpakul UDD activist Initially sentenced to 18 years in prison (six years for each three comments she made) without suspension for "intending to insult" Bhumibol and Sirikit at a political protest.[10] She did not actually mention the monarchs in her speech (she said the "ruling class"), however, the court ruled that the prosecution "brought evidence that makes it possible to interpret that the defendant meant the King and Queen Sirikit."[11] In 2011 the appeals court voided the sentence given by the criminal court. A retrial sentenced her to 15 years, five years per each offence, in prison.[12] On 27 August 2016, Darunee was released after requesting a royal pardon and serving more than eight years in prison.[13]
Apr 2010 Wipas Raksakulthai Thai businessman A post to his Facebook account allegedly insulting Bhumibol.[14] The arrest was reportedly the first lèse majesté charge against a Thai Facebook user.[15] In response, Amnesty International named Wipas Thailand's first prisoner of conscience in nearly three decades.[16]
May 2011 Joe Gordon American freedom of expression activist, born in Thailand as Lerpong Wichaikhammat Posted a link on his blog to a banned book about the ailing King Bhumibol. Also was reportedly suspected of translating, from English into Thai, portions of The King Never Smiles, an unauthorized biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and posting them online, along with articles he wrote that allegedly defamed the royal family.[17][18]

"I want President Obama and Hillary Clinton to intervene on my behalf," he is quoted.[19] After being denied bail eight times, a shackled–and–handcuffed Gordon said in court on 10 October, "I'm not fighting in the case. I'm pleading guilty, sirs."[20] On 8 December 2011 a court in Thailand sentenced him to two and a half years in prison (halved from five years due to pleading guilty).[21] On 10 July 2012, Gordon received a pardon from the king and was released from jail.[22]

Mar 2012 Akachai Hongkangwan Sold VCDs containing a segment of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Foreign Correspondent series.[23] Australian foreign correspondent Eric Campbell and ABC's entire Bangkok bureau had been banned from entering Thailand after they aired an investigation of Bhumibol's role in the military's violent 2010 crackdown on protesters.
May 2012 "Uncle SMS" Real name Ampon Tangnoppakul — Thai: อำพล ตั้งนพกุล — known familiarly as "Ah Kong" "อากง" Accused of sending four short message service (SMS) messages from his cell phones. The messages were deemed offensive to the King and Queen of Thailand. He was denied bail on eight occasions[24] and died from liver cancer in a prison hospital at the age of 61 while serving a 20–year prison sentence.[25][26] Amnesty International named Ampon Tangnoppakul a prisoner of conscience[27] in 2011.
Jan 2013 Somyot Prueksakasemsuk Magazine editor and activist Sentenced to ten years in prison, convicted of publishing two articles under a pseudonym that made negative references to the crown in his now-defunct magazine Voice of Taksin.[28] Amnesty International has designated Somyot Prueksakasemsuk a prisoner of conscience.
Sep 2013 Yuthapoom Martnok Accused of lèse majesté by his brother, and "has been jailed for a year in a Bangkok prison" while waiting for a court ruling, according to a Bangkok Post article.[29] He was acquitted and released one day after the article ran.[30]
Oct 2013 Sondhi Limthongkul Founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Quoted remarks made by an opponent protesting the 2008 resumption of PAD protests.[31] The appeals court in so doing reversed a lower court acquittal (Thailand has no bar to double jeopardy) handed down on 26 September 2012. The lèse majesté had resulted from Sondhi's having quoted remarks made by Daranee Chanchoengsilpakul.[32] Sondhi's 2012 acquittal upheld prosecution for whatever words Sondhi had quoted, but for much less than "18 years in prison without suspension." Sondhi was sentenced to two years imprisonment, then released after posting 500,000 baht (US$15,935) in bail.
2014 Nithiwat Wannasiri Musician Member and lead singer of the punk rock group Faiyen, which became known for writing and performing songs that mocked the lèse majesté law as well as corrupt officials and the elites.[33] Following the 2014 Thai coup d'état Wannasiri was accused of lèse majesté and subsequently charged under article 112.[34] He was forced into exile and continues to campaign against lèse majesté.[35]
Aug 2014 Jaran Ditapichai Academic, political activist and former human rights commissioner The three were accused of defaming the king because of their role in a political play performed during the 40th anniversary of the 14 October 1973 student uprising in October 2013. Jaran Ditapichai was charged because he was the head organizer of the event where the play, "The Wolf Pride", was performed.[36][37][38]

Pornthip Munkong was charged because she performed in the play and Patiwat Saraiyaem was charged for staging the play. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) declared their detention arbitrary and against provisions which guarantee the fundamental right to liberty, the right to a fair trial, and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.[39] On 23 February 2015, Pornthip Munkong and Patiwat Saraiyaem received a sentence of 2 years and 6 months each.[40] They were released from prison in August 2016.[41][42]

Jaran Ditapichai remains in exile in France where the government of France has granted him a political refugee status.[43]

Pornthip "Golf Prakai Fai" Munkong Activist
Patiwat Saraiyaem Khon Kaen University student
2014 Somsak Jeamteerasakul Academic Somsak Jeamteerasakul was a former history lecturer at Thammasat University known for his criticism of the Thai monarchy and the lèse majesté law. He was a critic of the 2014 military coup and was accused of being "a mentally ill academic [who] is intent on overthrowing the institution," by the leader of the junta Prayut Chan-o-cha.[44] He avoided arrest by going into hiding and later escaping to France where he was granted political asylum.[45] In April 2017 the Thai authorities declared it illegal to communicate or exchange information with Somsak Jeamteerasakul on the internet.[46]
Dec 2014 Nopporn Suppipat Thai Businessman Nopporn Suppipat is founder and former CEO of Wind Energy Holding and in 2014 was listed 31st on Forbes Asia's ranking of Thailand's 50 Richest with a net worth of US$800 million.[47][48] After the May 2014 coup he was accused of lèse majesté during a corruption investigation into family members of Princess Srirasmi Suwadee.[49] Supippat fled to France and was granted political asylum.[50]
January 2015 Thanet Anantawong He was charged with lèse majesté "inciting disorder and computer crimes. He was among a group of student activists who attempted to visit Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin early last month to hold a protest, but were intercepted by military officers".[51]
Dec 2015 Thanakorn Siripaiboon Thai factory worker Faces multiple charges including that of insulting the king's adopted dog Tongdaeng. He was detained on 8 December 2015 and kept in an undisclosed location prompting fears of his forced disappearance.[52] Thai military junta did not detail the precise insult made towards the animal. He faces up to 37 years in prison.[53] He was granted bail on 8 March 2016; the bail was set at half a million baht.
May 2016 Patnaree Chankij Mother of a prominent pro-democracy activist Charged with lèse majesté for failing to criticize or take action on personal Facebook messages that were sent to her account by her son's friend Burin Intin.[54] According to a statement made by her lawyer, "[Police] Officers interpreted refusal to reprimand something is equal to agreeing with it".[55][56] On 8 May 2016 media said that Chankij was released on bail.[57]
Jun 2016 Thanat "Tom Dundee" Thanawatcharanon Singer Arrested in 2014 for a speech he made at a Red Shirt rally in 2013. After being detained for two years without bail, he was sentenced on 1 June 2016 to 7.5 years in prison.[58][59][60] A second sentencing on 11 July 2016 by a military court over another speech given in 2013 added three years and four months to his sentence. The two lèse majesté convictions total 10 years and 10 months imprisonment.[61][62] He was released in 2019 after having been in prison for five years.[63][64]
Dec 2016 Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (Pai Dao Din) Thai student and activist Political activist Jatupat Boonpattararaksa was arrested after sharing a profile of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, published by BBC Thai on this personal Facebook page.[65][66]
Apr 2017 Sulak Sivaraksa Academic Sulak was charged for his remark during an academic forum at Thammasat University in October 2014 doubting the existence of an elephant duel between King Naresuan of Ayutthaya and Crown Prince Mingyi Swa of Taungoo Burma in the 16th century.[67][68] In January 2018, it is revealed that military attorney decided not to sue him after he petitioned to the King, and he advised the government to drop the case.[69]
Jan 2018 Murhyatee Masoh Unemployed Thai-Malay Muslim from Yala Province Murhyatee, a blind woman, was found guilty of violating Article 112 of the constitution in two separate Facebook posts in October 2016. She used a voice-assisted application which reads text out loud. The woman, under arrest since November 2016, pleaded guilty. The source of the defamatory content which Murhyatee re-posted is unclear. "The court said they are sympathetic to her [because she's blind] but said the law is the law."[70]
Jan 2018 Chanoknan Ruamsap Pro-democracy activist On January 16, Chanoknan received a summons to a police station two days later, to answer to charges of lèse-majesté following a media article she shared on Facebook. She chose to leave the country rather than risk imprisonment.[71][72]
Dec 2018 Wanchaleom Jamneanphol YouTube personality Charged with lèse-majesté and computer crimes for describing online a dress designed by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana as ugly. The dress was worn by the Thai contestant in the 2018 Miss Universe pageant held in Bangkok. The charges were levied by Thai millionaire and would-be politician, Kitjanut Chaiyosburana. He explained his action, saying, "I cannot accept that a well-known individual in the online world expressed negative opinions that affect the country's reputation,..." The princess is the only daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and his former consort, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse.[73]
Mar 2022 Tantawan "Tawan" Tuatulanon Student She was initially arrested while conducting a poll on the lèse-majesté law and then released without charges.[74] After live-streaming a procession and asking questions about why protestors were being cleared from the route, she was arrested again and charged.[75] She was initially granted bail, which was then revoked.[76] Tuatulanon and another activist, Orawan “Bam” Phuphong, went on hunger strike for 52 days in order to protest the lack of bail for lèse-majesté defendants; 13 out of 16 were granted bail during the hunger strike.[77]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "A Critic May Now Look at a King", Macan-Markar, Marwaan, The Asian Eye, 18 May 2005
  2. ^ Gearing, Julian (3 December 1999). "Thailand: A Protective Law". Asiaweek. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  3. ^ Wall Street Journal, In Thailand, Insulting the King Can Mean 15 Years in Jail, 16 October 2008
  4. ^ Committee to Protect Journalists, BBC reporter charged with insulting the king, 24 December 2008
  5. ^ Australian man refused bail for insulting Thai King, ABC Online, 3 September 2008
  6. ^ Schwartzkoff, Louise (23 Feb 2009). "Author denies it was a stunt". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ "Australian arrested in Thailand for lese-majeste". Reuters. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
  8. ^ "Writer jailed for Thai 'insult'". BBC. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Thailand frees Australian writer". BBC. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. ^ 18 years in jail for 'Da Torpedo'. Bangkok Post, 28 August 2009
  11. ^ Fa Dio Kan, "Official Judgement of Daranee Chanchoengsilapakul", July – September 2009 (Year 7, No. 3)
  12. ^ "A Call to Remember: 6 years of Da Torpedo behind bars for lèse majesté". Prachatai English.
  13. ^ "Three lese majeste prisoners freed". Bangkok Post.
  14. ^ "Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy". Agence France-Presse. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  15. ^ "Govt cracks down on social networking forums". Bangkok Post. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  16. ^ Pravit Rojanaphruk (14 May 2011). "Amnesty International names Thailand's first 'prisoner of conscience'". The Nation. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  17. ^ "Joe Gordon, Colorado Man Living In Thailand, Arrested For Allegedly Insulting Monarchy". Huffington Post. 27 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Freedom Alert: American arrested in Thailand, accused of criticizing monarchy". Freedom House.
  19. ^ Rachel Harvey (1 June 2011). "US man held for 'Thai monarchy insult' appeals to Obama". BBC News Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Joe Gordon pleads guilty to lèse majesté charges". Asian Correspondent. AP. 10 October 2011. Hoping for a lenient sentence, a shackled U.S. citizen pleaded guilty Monday to charges of defaming Thailand's royal family, a grave crime in this Southeast Asian kingdom that is punishable by up to 15 years in jail.
  21. ^ "Thailand jails U.S. man for insulting king". CBS News. Associated Press (AP). 2008-12-08. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  22. ^ Bangkok Pundit (July 11, 2012). "Thai-American jailed on lèse majesté charges gets pardon". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Associated Press. Retrieved July 11, 2012. A lawyer for an American imprisoned in Thailand for translating a banned book about the king says he has been granted a royal pardon, and the U.S. Embassy says he has been freed.
  23. ^ "Thai police arrest man for selling monarchy video" (News & blogging). Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Associated Press. March 22, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012. A Thai man faces up to 15 years in prison for selling video CDs containing an Australian TV news program about Thailand's monarchy, his lawyer said....
  24. ^ Kong Rithdee (May 12, 2012). "Funeral pyres lit in our dark night of shame". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original (Opinion) on January 17, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  25. ^ Ah Kong's death reignites debate
  26. ^ Lisa Gardner (May 8, 2012). "'Uncle SMS' Akong, jailed for lèse majeste, dies – A chronology". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Retrieved May 8, 2012. A 61-year old Thai retiree and grandfather, whose twenty-year conviction under Thailand's lese-majeste law last year drew heavy criticism from civil rights groups, has been confirmed dead today.
  27. ^ "Thai lese majeste prisoner dies". Radio Australia.
  28. ^ "Thailand sentences editor to 10 years in jail for royal insult". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Associated Press. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013. A prominent Thai activist and magazine editor was sentenced to a decade in prison Wednesday for defaming Thailand's monarchy, a verdict rights groups condemned as the latest affront to freedom of expression in the Southeast Asian country.
  29. ^ "Lese majeste law makes family feud a battle royal". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  30. ^ Achara Ashayagachat (2013-09-13). "Man acquitted of lese majeste charges filed by his brother". Bangkok Post.
  31. ^ "Thai royalist sentenced for repeating royal insult". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Associated Press. October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013. The founder of Thailand's royalist Yellow Shirt movement has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for defaming the monarchy by repeating offensive comments made by a political opponent.
  32. ^ "Thailand: Media mogul Sondhi cleared of insulting monarchy". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Associated Press. September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2013. A Bangkok court has acquitted the founder of Thailand's Yellow Shirt political movement of insulting the monarchy by quoting remarks defaming the royal family.
  33. ^ "Music of the Unutterable - Prachatai English". prachatai.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
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  35. ^ "alterasia.org - Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! - Informationen zum Thema alterasia". www.alterasia.org. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  36. ^ "Lese majeste pair denied bail by court". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  37. ^ "Red-shirt leader charged with lèse majesté due to political play 'The Wolf Bride' - Prachatai English". prachatai.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  38. ^ Hawley, South-East Asia correspondent Samantha; wires (24 February 2015). "Rights groups slam jailing of two Thai students". ABC News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  39. ^ "UN body demands immediate release of lèse-majesté detainee". Worldwide Movement for Human Rights. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  40. ^ "Thais jailed for king insult in play". BBC News. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  41. ^ "Thai prisoners jailed for insulting monarchy freed after pardon". ABC News. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  42. ^ Thai Student Actor Pornthip Munkong Has Been Released!
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  47. ^ "Bangkok Post article". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  48. ^ "Nopporn Suppipat". Forbes. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  49. ^ "Thailand's Wind Energy appoints new CEO after graft scandal". Reuters. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  50. ^ "Scandal at Thai Wind Concern Threatens US$2 billion IPO". 29 September 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  51. ^ "Activist wanted on lese majeste flees abroad". Bangkok Post.
  52. ^ "Thailand: Junta Critic Feared 'Disappeared'". Human Rights Watch. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  53. ^ A Thai Man Faces Nearly 40 Years in Jail for Insulting the King's Dog. Time.
  54. ^ "Thailand: Junta Arrests Activist's Mother". Human Rights Watch. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  55. ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai; Reporter, Staff (6 May 2016). "Activist's Mother Defamed Monarchy With Her Silence, Police Say". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  56. ^ Gimse, Lars Martin (20 May 2016). "Patnaree (40) risikerer 15 års fengsel for å ha skrevet "ok" på Facebook". Dagbladet.no. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  57. ^ "'Ja New's' mother granted bail". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  58. ^ Cochrane, Southeast Asia correspondent Liam; wires (1 June 2016). "Thai singer Tom Dundee jailed for offending monarchy". ABC News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  59. ^ "Tom Dundee: French-educated country singer-turned-lèse majesté prisoner - Prachatai English". prachatai.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  60. ^ "Thailand jails country singer for seven years in royal insult case". Reuters. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
  61. ^ "red shirt singer gets extra years in prison for lèse majesté". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  62. ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai; Reporter, Staff (1 June 2016). "Singer Gets 7 Years for Lese Majeste, Must Write 'Reconciliation Song'". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  63. ^ "Jailed red-shirt singer released under royal pardon". Bangkok Post.
  64. ^ Free Tom Dundee
  65. ^ "Thai activist arrested for Facebook share". BBC News. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  66. ^ Rojanaphruk, Pravit; Writer, Senior Staff (23 January 2017). "Jatupat Singled Out to Scare Others, Supporters Say". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  67. ^ Voice TV Editorial Board (2017-04-20). "Sǭnǭ chana songkhrām sǭp pākkham khadī sǭsǭsǭ thūk thahān klāohā min phra narēsūan" สน. ชนะสงครามสอบปากคำพยาน คดี สศษ. ถูกทหารกล่าวหาหมิ่นพระนเรศวร [Chana Songkhram Police examines witnesses for the case in which Sulak Sivaraksa has been accused by the military of defaming King Naresuan]. Voice TV (in Thai). Bangkok: Voice TV. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  68. ^ "Laws that lead to guffaws" (Editorial). Bangkok Post. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  69. ^ "ส.ศิวรักษ์เผยได้ทำฎีกาทูลเกล้าฯ ก่อนอัยการศาลทหารสั่งไม่ฟ้องคดี ม.112 ปมพูดพาดพิงพระนเรศวร" [S. Sivaraksa Said He Petitioned [the King] Before Military Attorney Decided Not Sue Article 112 for Speaking About Naresuan]. Prachatai (in Thai). 24 January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  70. ^ Rojanaphruk, Pravit (5 January 2018). "Blind Woman to Serve 1.5 Years in Prison for Defaming Monarchy". Khaosod English. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  71. ^ "Anti-coup activist Chanoknan flees country to avoid lese majeste trial - The Nation". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  72. ^ "Activist Says She Faces Arrest for Sharing Stories Online". Khaosod English. 2016-12-08. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  73. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (2018-12-19). "YouTube host faces charges for criticising Thai princess's Miss Universe dress". The Guardian. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  74. ^ "Activist arrested while conducting poll on royal defamation law". Prachatai. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  75. ^ "Activist arrested for live broadcasting at a royal procession". Prachatai. No. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  76. ^ "Monarchy reform activist's bail revoked". 20 April 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  77. ^ "Activists end hunger strike after 52 days". Bangkok Post. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
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