The Number of Prosecutions under “Lèse Majesté” in 2020

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The number of prosecutions under “Lèse Majesté” in 2020 from November 24-December 31, 2020

*Last edited January 1, 2020, at 1 pm

On November 24, 2020, it was reported in the media that at least 12 protest leaders will receive police summons for allegedly violating Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code (“Lèse Majesté”):  Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, Arnon Nampa, Chanin Wongsri, Patsaravalee “Mind” Thanakitvibulpon, Piyarat “Toto” Jongthep, Jutathip Sirikhan, Attapon “Kru-yai” Buapat, Chukiat Sangwong, Sombat Tongyoi, Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree.  

Since 2018, lese majeste has been in suspension while Computer Crime Act and Section 116 of Thai Criminal Code (“Sedition”) have been in place to prosecute protestors or dissidents. However, this provision has returned after Gen Prayuth Chan-Ocha, the prime minister, announced on November 19, 2020, that all laws and provisions would be used to prosecute protestors who violated the law and failed to respect other people’s rights and liberties, in line with the country’s justice procedure.

From November 24 to December 31, 2020, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights record at least 38 individuals in 24 lawsuits who were charged under Lese Majeste. These include one minor and several university students. Also, it should be noted that these statistics include those who have not acknowledged charges.

Among 23 lawsuits, six of them were derived from previous “sedition” cases that the alleged offenders have already acknowledged charges as follows:

  1. The case derived from the September 24 rally at Thai parliament in Bangkok
  2. The case derived from the October 26 rally at German Embassy in Bangkok
  3. The case derived from the rally on September 10 at Nonthaburi province
  4. The case derived from the rally in Ubon Ratchathani province on August 22, 2020
  5. The case derived from the rally in Roi-et province on September 3, 2020
  6. The case derived from the September 19 rally at Thammasat University

Prominent protest leaders are also charged with a number of royal defamation offenses:

Parit Chiwarak with 12 cases
Arnon Nampa with 8 cases
Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul with 6 cases
Panupong Jadnok with 5 cases

No.Date of IncidentCausationAlleged Offender(s)Case Status
1

August 22, 2020

Giving speeches in #WhenYouthSpeaksAdultListens rally at the City Pillar Shrine in Ubon Ratchathani provinceParit ChiwarakInquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020
2September 3, 2020Giving speeches in the rally in Roi-et provinceParit ChiwarakInquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020
3September 10, 2020Giving speeches in #NonthaburianCantBearItAnymore in Nonthaburi province (3 individuals)
  1. Parit Chiwarak
  2. Panupong Jadnok
  3. Panusaya Sithijirawattanuakul
Already acknowledged charges at Nonthaburi  Police Station on December 8, 2020
4September 19, 2020Giving speeches in #19SeptemberTimetoReturnPowertoPeople at Thammasat University and Sanam Luang (7 individuals)
  1. Jatupat Boonpatraksa aka “Pai Dao Din”
  2.  Somyot Pruksakasemsuk
  3. Panupong Jadnok
  4. Patiwat Saraiyaem
  5. Parit Chiwarak
  6. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul
  7. Arnon Nampa
Already acknowledged charges at Chana Songkram Police Station on  November 30 and December 8, 2020
5September 24, 2020Giving speeches in #MarchToParliamentToDriveOutRulingElitesSlaves rally in front of the parliament in Bangkok (5 individuals)
  1. Jutathip Sirikhan
  2. Patsaravalee “Mind” Thanakitvibulpon
  3. Chanin Wongsri
  4. Kiattichai Tangpornphan
  5. Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree
Already acknowledged charges at Bangpo Police Station on December 17, 2020
6October 14, 2020Giving speeches in #Oct14Protest at Democracy Monument in BangkokArnon NampaAlready acknowledged charges at Samran Rat Police Station on December 16, 2020
7October 26, 2020Giving speeches and reading the statement to urge “the German Embassy to examine if King Vachiralongkorn’s exercising his power in Germany’s Territorial Sovereignty” in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok (13 individuals)
  1.  Patsaravalee “Mind” Thanakitvibulpon
  2.  Korakoth Sangyenpan
  3. Chanin Wongsri
  4. Chonlatit Chottsawas
  5. Benja Apan
  6.  Watcharakorn Chaikaew
  7. Nawat Liangwattana
  8. Attapon “Kru-yai” Buapat
  9. Akrapon Teepthaisong
  10. Suthinee Jangpipatwattanakij
  11. Ravisra Ekskool
  12. Joseph (pseudonym)
  13. A (pseudonym)
Already acknowledged charges at Thung Mahamek Police Station on December 8 and 9, 2020
8November 14, 2020Giving speeches in “MobFest” or November 14 rally at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road, BangkokParit ChiwarakInquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020
9September 8, 2020Publishing his letter to King Vachiralongkorn on his Facebook (Sutep Silpa-ngam as an accuser)Parit ChiwarakAlready acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 9, 2020
10September 8, 2020Publishing his letter to King Vachiralongkorn on his Facebook (Acting Sub Lt.Narin Sakcharoenchaikul as an accuser)Arnon NampaAlready acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 14, 2020
11September 8, 2020Publishing her letter to King Vachiralongkorn on her Facebook (Nitipong Honark as an accuser)Panusaya SithijirawattanakulAlready acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 9, 2020
12November 17, 2020Giving speehces in #ICommandThatYouStayUnderTheConstitution rally in front of the parliament (Somchai Isara as an accuser)Arnon NampaAlready acknowledged charges at Bangpo Police Station on December 14, 2020
13October 29, 2020Wearing Thai costumes and black crop top in #Oct29Rally or “Runway of the People” in front of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat-Kaek), Silom Road, Bangkok

 

  1. 16-year-old minor
  2. Jatuporn Sae-ung
Already acknowledged charges at Yannawa Police Station on December 17, 2020
14unknownPolice summons from Pitsanulok Police Station in which Naeng-noi Asawakittikorn is an accuser (unknown causation)
  1. Parit Chiwarak
  2. Arnon Nampa
  3. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul
Have yet to acknowledge charges
15September 29, 2020Police summons from Bangkhen Police Station from presumably #Nov29Rally at the 11th Infantry Regiment
  1. Arnon Nampa
  2. Parit Chiwarak
  3. Inthira Charoenpura
  4. Natthatida Meewangpla
  5. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk
  6. Pimsiri Petchnamrob
  7. Promsorn Weeradhamjaree
  8. Shinawatra Chankrajang
Already acknowledged charges at Bangkhen Police Sation on December 21, 2020, at 10 am
16November 18, 2020Police summons from Lumphini Station from presumably #Nov18Rally in front of the Royal Police Headquarters
  1. Chukiat Saengwong
  2. Sirapob Phumphuengphut
Will acknowledge charges at Lumphini Police Station on December 18, 2020, at 10 am
17October 30 and November 2, 2020Publishing 3 messages on his Facebook which include “Very brave. Very good. Thank you.”Sombat ThongyoiAlready acknowledged charges on December 14, 2020
18UnknownPolice summons from Tha Pra Police Station (unknown causation)Chukiat SaengwongHave yet to acknowledge charges
19November 25, 2020Police summons from Phaholyothin Police Station from presumably #Nov25RallyToSCB in front of Siam Commercial Bank Head Office
  1. Parit Chiwarak
  2. Arnon Nampa
  3. Panupong Jadnok
  4. Pongsathorn “Boy” Tuncharoen
  5. Shinnawatra Chankrajang
  6. Promsorn Weeradhamjaree
  7. Wannawalee (lastname undisclosed)
Have yet to acknowledge charges
20September 19, 2020Police summons from Chana Songkram Police Station from presumably applying a “กูKult” (Gu-Kult) sticker in the September 19 rally at Thammasat University and Sanam LuangNarin (lastname undisclosed)Already acknowledged charges at Chana Songkram Police Station on December 22, 2020
21August 20, 2020Giving speeches in #HoldRallytoExpelThem rally at Democracy Monument in Khon Khaen provinceParit ChiwarakInquiry officers from Khon Khaen Police Station notified him of charges on December 21, 2020.
22August 21, 2020Giving speeches in #AyutthayaCan’tBearItAnymore rally in Ayutthaya province1. Parit Chiwarak

2. Panupong Jadnok

3. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul

Inquiry officers from Ayutthaya Police Station notified him of charges on December 21, 2020.
23December 2, 2020Giving speeches in #Dec2 rally at Ladprao intersection
  1. Parit Chiwarak
  2. Arnon Nampa
  3. Panupong Jadnok
  4. Shinawatra Chan-krajang
  5. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul
  6. Chirathita (lastname undisclosed)
Already acknowledged charges at Paholyothin Police Station on December 22, 2020
24Accused of being an admin of “The People’s Party” (Khana-Ratsadon) Facebook page and having yellow duck calendars with alleged three messages and pictures which defame Thai royal familyNat (pseudonym)Arrested without warrants and brought to Nong Khaem Police Station to be acknowledged of the charge on December 31, 2020

 

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