All articles tagged with #lese majeste law
A Bangkok court has acquitted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of insulting the monarchy in a case related to an interview he gave a decade ago, highlighting the controversial use of Thailand's lese majeste law and providing relief to the Shinawatra family amid ongoing political challenges.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will face charges of insulting the monarchy over a 2015 interview, highlighting ongoing tensions with the royalist establishment. His indictment under the lese majeste law, which has been widely used against political dissidents, may limit his political ambitions despite his recent return from exile and his party's coalition government formation.
Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled that the Move Forward Party violated the constitution with its plans to change a law against insulting the monarchy, stating that the campaign was a veiled effort to undermine the powerful crown. The party's proposal to amend article 112 of the criminal code, which carries penalties of up to 15 years in jail for insulting the royal family, has sparked controversy and legal challenges. The court's verdict is expected to trigger further legal efforts to seek the party's dissolution and political bans for its leaders, highlighting the ongoing power struggle between royalists, military, and progressive parties in Thailand.
Thailand's popular pro-democracy party Move Forward, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, faces dissolution after a court ruled its campaign promise to amend the lese majeste law as unconstitutional, potentially leading to a ban on its leaders from politics. The court's decision reinforces the untouchability of the lese majeste law, stifling any discussion of the powerful monarchy and sending a clear message that political dissent will not be permitted. This ruling has sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms and the stifling of political criticism in Thailand.
Thailand's Constitutional Court has ordered the Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the 2023 election, to cease its campaign to amend the strict royal defamation law, ruling that it violated the constitution and aimed to overthrow the monarchy. This decision is seen as a setback for the country's reform movement and could lead to further prosecutions and potential dissolution of the party. The ruling effectively makes amending the lese majeste law nearly impossible, sparking concerns about freedom of expression and the monarchy's role in Thailand's constitutional order.
Thailand's reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat has overcome the first court hurdle and will be reinstated as an MP after being cleared of breaking candidate rules. The charismatic leader and his Move Forward party, seen as a threat to the establishment, have faced legal challenges aimed at ending his political career. While acquitted in the first case, a potentially more serious legal challenge regarding his plan to reform Thailand's lese majeste law looms. The court's ruling on this could lead to the party's dissolution and its leadership being banned from politics. Pita's supporters cheered the verdict, and he remains committed to fighting for the reforms promised by his party, including amending the lese majeste law and limiting military influence in politics and business.
A Thai man is facing a record 50 years in prison for insulting the royal family through social media posts, with an appeals court adding to his initial 28-year sentence. The lèse-majesté law in Thailand, which protects the monarchy from criticism, has been criticized by international human rights groups as extreme. The man's lawyer stated that he denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal the sentence to the Supreme Court. This case highlights the strict enforcement of the lèse-majesté law, with at least 262 people charged with offenses since 2020, amid youth-led protests openly criticizing the monarchy.
A Thai court has sentenced a man to 50 years in jail for defaming the monarchy on Facebook, marking the highest ever sentence under the country's lese majeste law. The law criminalizes any negative comment about the monarchy and has been widely criticized. The defendant's sentence was increased to 50 years from an original 28 years, with the judge citing multiple comments on Facebook. The revival and extensive use of the lese majeste law since student-led protests three years ago have sparked calls for sweeping reforms to the monarchy, with the Constitutional Court set to rule on whether to dissolve a party over its call to amend the law.
Thai MP Rukchanok Srinork, a member of the Move Forward Party, has been sentenced to six years in prison for posting defamatory remarks about the monarchy on social media. She was convicted under Thailand's strict lese-majeste law and the Computer Crimes Act. Srinork denies the charges and has applied for bail. If her appeal is unsuccessful, she may face disqualification as a member of parliament. Critics argue that the lese-majeste law has been used to suppress dissent, and there has been a surge in charges since pro-democracy protests in 2020. At least 262 people have been charged with insulting the monarchy since then.
Rukchanok Srinork, a recently elected lawmaker in Thailand, has been sentenced to six years in prison for defaming the monarchy under the controversial lese majeste law. She was charged over two social media posts, including a tweet about the monarchy's links to a coronavirus vaccine and a retweet of an anti-monarchy quote. Rukchanok, a member of the opposition Move Forward Party, has denied posting the tweets and has appealed the sentence. Critics argue that the lese majeste law is often used to suppress political dissent in Thailand.
Prominent activist and lawyer Arnon Nampa has been sentenced to four years in prison for royal insults, under Thailand's strict lese-majeste law. Arnon, known for his calls to reform the monarchy, was found guilty over remarks made during pro-democracy protests in 2020. The lese-majeste law shields the palace from criticism and carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years. Arnon's sentencing is seen as a setback for groups seeking amendments to the law, which has been used to charge at least 257 people in the past three years.
Eight parties have agreed to form a coalition government in Thailand with Pita Limjaroenrat's Move Forward Party and make him prime minister. The proposed coalition would have 313 seats in the House of Representatives, a solid majority of its 500 members. However, fears exist among the coalition's supporters that Pita's military-aligned opponents may use the unelected Senate to block him from office. Young voters were particularly attracted by Move Forward's policies, including a proposed amendment of Thailand's harsh lese-majeste law, under which criticising the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.