- Tantawan Tuatulanon has been sentenced to two years in prison for violating Thailand's strict royal insult law, according to a rights group.
- The criminal court convicted Tantawan on Monday for a livestream she aired near a royal motorcade in March 2022, as reported by the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
- The court found that Tantawan intended to defame Thailand's highly revered monarchy by questioning police conduct during a farmers' protest.
- Tantawan's lawyer, Khumklao Songsomboon, stated that they would file an appeal, maintaining her innocence.
- Tantawan was granted bail pending her appeal, with a condition that she cannot travel abroad.
- Under Section 112 of Thailand's criminal code, anyone convicted of insulting the monarchy can face a prison sentence of up to 15 years per offence.
- Legal observers note that the lese-majeste law is interpreted broadly, often used to target dissent.
- Since pro-democracy protests began in 2020, nearly 300 people have been charged under the lese-majeste law, according to TLHR.
A Thai court has sentenced 25-year-old activist Tantawan Tuatulanon to two years in prison for violating the country’s strict royal insult law. The conviction stems from a livestream she aired in March 2022, where she questioned police actions against farmers protesting along the route of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s motorcade in Bangkok.1
The court found that Tantawan intended to defame the monarchy, stating her actions were “not a good-faith exercise of rights.” Despite the ruling, her lawyer, Khumklao Songsomboon, maintains her innocence, asserting, “This is simply an exercise of freedom of speech questioning the police’s work and right to assembly.”34
Tantawan was granted bail pending her appeal, with restrictions on international travel. She was also fined 600 baht ($18) for disobeying an official's order. This is not her first encounter with the law; she was previously detained over the same incident and went on a hunger strike.5
Under Section 112 of Thailand's criminal code, those convicted of insulting the monarchy can face up to 15 years in prison per offense. Since pro-democracy protests began in 2020, nearly 300 individuals have been charged under the lese-majeste law, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).67
Khumklao emphasized their commitment to continue fighting the case, stating, “We have fought this far and will definitely continue to do so.”
“Tantawan was granted bail pending appeal, but barred from traveling abroad. The court also fined her 600 baht ($18) for disobeying an official's order, and she had previously been detained over the same incident, going on hunger strikes both times.”
South China Morning Post
The Star
