Woman sentenced to 43 years for criticizing Thai monarchy

World
By Editor_1
Anchan’s initial 87-year sentence was halved because she pleaded guilty -  Narong Sangnak/EPA
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By Hannah Beech

BANGKOK — The onetime civil servant’s crime was to share audio clips on social media that were deemed critical of Thailand’s monarchy. The sentence, handed down Tuesday (19) by a criminal court in Bangkok, was more than 43 years in prison.

It was the longest sentence yet for violating Thailand’s notoriously tough lèse-majesté law, which makes it a crime to defame senior members of the royal family, according to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. The former civil servant, Anchan Preelert, was sentenced to 87 years, but her prison term was cut in half because she agreed to plead guilty.

“Today’s court verdict is shocking and sends a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy won’t be tolerated but that they will also be severely punished,” said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch.

Thailand has seen a spike in lèse-majesté cases since late last year, after more than two years during which Section 112 of the criminal code, which applies to criticism of top royals, was not enforced, according to Thai legal groups. The three-year pause came at the behest of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who wanted such prosecutions halted, according to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

But that was before a protest movement surged last year. Protesters have demanded scrutiny of the palace’s finances. And they have campaigned for the removal of Prayuth, a former army general who took power in a 2014 coup.

In recent weeks, dozens of Thais, including teenagers and students, have been accused of violating Section 112.

Section 112 makes insulting or defaming the king or his close relatives an offense punishable by three to 15 years in prison. Each charge is counted separately, which partly explains why Anchan’s prison sentence is so long.

The case against Anchan began before authorities suspended their use of Section 112.

In 2015, the military junta led by then-Gen. Prayuth detained more than a dozen people, including Anchan. They were charged with using social media to disseminate audio and video recordings seen as critical of then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the current king’s father.

Bhumibol often commuted lengthy lèse-majesté prison sentences. But it is not clear whether his son will continue that tradition.

Pawinee Chumsri, one of Anchan’s lawyers, said they were planning an appeal.

-New York Times

 

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