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:
- The case derived from the September 24 rally at Thai parliament in Bangkok
- The case derived from the October 26 rally at German Embassy in Bangkok
- The case derived from the rally on September 10 at Nonthaburi province
- The case derived from the rally in Ubon Ratchathani province on August 22, 2020
- The case derived from the rally in Roi-et province on September 3, 2020
- 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 Incident | Causation | Alleged Offender(s) | Case Status |
1 | August 22, 2020 | Giving speeches in #WhenYouthSpeaksAdultListens rally at the City Pillar Shrine in Ubon Ratchathani province | Parit Chiwarak | Inquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020 |
2 | September 3, 2020 | Giving speeches in the rally in Roi-et province | Parit Chiwarak | Inquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020 |
3 | September 10, 2020 | Giving speeches in #NonthaburianCantBearItAnymore in Nonthaburi province (3 individuals) |
| Already acknowledged charges at Nonthaburi Police Station on December 8, 2020 |
4 | September 19, 2020 | Giving speeches in #19SeptemberTimetoReturnPowertoPeople at Thammasat University and Sanam Luang (7 individuals) |
| Already acknowledged charges at Chana Songkram Police Station on November 30 and December 8, 2020 |
5 | September 24, 2020 | Giving speeches in #MarchToParliamentToDriveOutRulingElitesSlaves rally in front of the parliament in Bangkok (5 individuals) |
| Already acknowledged charges at Bangpo Police Station on December 17, 2020 |
6 | October 14, 2020 | Giving speeches in #Oct14Protest at Democracy Monument in Bangkok | Arnon Nampa | Already acknowledged charges at Samran Rat Police Station on December 16, 2020 |
7 | October 26, 2020 | Giving 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) |
| Already acknowledged charges at Thung Mahamek Police Station on December 8 and 9, 2020 |
8 | November 14, 2020 | Giving speeches in “MobFest” or November 14 rally at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok | Parit Chiwarak | Inquiry officers have notified them of charges on November 30, 2020 |
9 | September 8, 2020 | Publishing his letter to King Vachiralongkorn on his Facebook (Sutep Silpa-ngam as an accuser) | Parit Chiwarak | Already acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 9, 2020 |
10 | September 8, 2020 | Publishing his letter to King Vachiralongkorn on his Facebook (Acting Sub Lt.Narin Sakcharoenchaikul as an accuser) | Arnon Nampa | Already acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 14, 2020 |
11 | September 8, 2020 | Publishing her letter to King Vachiralongkorn on her Facebook (Nitipong Honark as an accuser) | Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul | Already acknowledged charges at Technology Crime Suppression Division on December 9, 2020 |
12 | November 17, 2020 | Giving speehces in #ICommandThatYouStayUnderTheConstitution rally in front of the parliament (Somchai Isara as an accuser) | Arnon Nampa | Already acknowledged charges at Bangpo Police Station on December 14, 2020 |
13 | October 29, 2020 | Wearing 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
|
| Already acknowledged charges at Yannawa Police Station on December 17, 2020 |
14 | unknown | Police summons from Pitsanulok Police Station in which Naeng-noi Asawakittikorn is an accuser (unknown causation) |
| Have yet to acknowledge charges |
15 | September 29, 2020 | Police summons from Bangkhen Police Station from presumably #Nov29Rally at the 11th Infantry Regiment |
| Already acknowledged charges at Bangkhen Police Sation on December 21, 2020, at 10 am |
16 | November 18, 2020 | Police summons from Lumphini Station from presumably #Nov18Rally in front of the Royal Police Headquarters |
| Will acknowledge charges at Lumphini Police Station on December 18, 2020, at 10 am |
17 | October 30 and November 2, 2020 | Publishing 3 messages on his Facebook which include “Very brave. Very good. Thank you.” | Sombat Thongyoi | Already acknowledged charges on December 14, 2020 |
18 | Unknown | Police summons from Tha Pra Police Station (unknown causation) | Chukiat Saengwong | Have yet to acknowledge charges |
19 | November 25, 2020 | Police summons from Phaholyothin Police Station from presumably #Nov25RallyToSCB in front of Siam Commercial Bank Head Office |
| Have yet to acknowledge charges |
20 | September 19, 2020 | Police summons from Chana Songkram Police Station from presumably applying a “กูKult” (Gu-Kult) sticker in the September 19 rally at Thammasat University and Sanam Luang | Narin (lastname undisclosed) | Already acknowledged charges at Chana Songkram Police Station on December 22, 2020 |
21 | August 20, 2020 | Giving speeches in #HoldRallytoExpelThem rally at Democracy Monument in Khon Khaen province | Parit Chiwarak | Inquiry officers from Khon Khaen Police Station notified him of charges on December 21, 2020. |
22 | August 21, 2020 | Giving speeches in #AyutthayaCan’tBearItAnymore rally in Ayutthaya province | 1. Parit Chiwarak 2. Panupong Jadnok 3. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul | Inquiry officers from Ayutthaya Police Station notified him of charges on December 21, 2020. |
23 | December 2, 2020 | Giving speeches in #Dec2 rally at Ladprao intersection |
| Already acknowledged charges at Paholyothin Police Station on December 22, 2020 |
24 | Accused 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 family | Nat (pseudonym) | Arrested without warrants and brought to Nong Khaem Police Station to be acknowledged of the charge on December 31, 2020 |