Lese majeste law. If you use the freedom, they charge you.

Lese majeste law 25 (1995). Political analyst Meas Nee said the situation was “confusing”. Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville Location: Geneva Date: 13 June 2017 Subject: Thailand: lèse majesté. ” The subjectivity of this language and lack of legal certainty The Thai monarchy, protected by the law of lèse-majesté, appears to be an anachronism in the age of nation-states. Last week, in a move that was shocking despite the cooling U. In the aftermath of a military coup in 2006, Thailand’s press freedom ranking plunged, while Parliament member Rukchanok Srinork of Thailand's opposition Move Forward party arrives at criminal court for the verdict for allegedly violating the lese majeste law in Bangkok, Thailand By December 2020, the lese-majeste law was being used once more against the protest leaders, in particular Arnon Nampa, who has been charged 14 times. In particular, controversies surrounding the royal family saw a surge in the number of le`se-majeste´ cases. The Bangkok Post recently reported that ultra-royalists have been active again in snitching on lese majeste. Soc’y & Hist. Since 2005, Thailand has been in crisis, with unprecedented political instability and the worst political violence seen in the country in decades. Did you know? Until the end of last year the law, which has been condemned by UN human rights officials as excessively severe, had been suspended for a three-year period, at the king's request. But when I wrote critically of the royal parasites on my blog, Dutch commenters demanded my head. It arguably only encourages the idea that monarchy is oppressive and undemocratic, which is already believed by enough republicans anyway. Hear more useful French words pronounced: https://www. Members of the international community also expressed their concern over the use of Article 112. Lèse-Majesté in Thailand is one of the most controversial and closely monitored laws in the country. 445, 463 n. University of Chicago Law School Chicago Unbound International Immersion Program Papers Student Papers 2018 "Beyond Common Sense :" the Resurgence of Thailand's Anachronistic Lèse Majesté Law Lauren NuDelman Follow this and additional works at:https://chicagounbound. If the law was signed into effect beforehand, however, it would have been “valid” at the time of the comments. An ultra-royalist group calling itself People United to Protect the Monarchy, “has Thailand Law Library is managed by Siam Legal International, a full service law firm with multiple branches in Thailand. ” 8 See Special Rapporteur, E/CN. The popular opposition party faces dissolution over its pledge to amend the country’s severe lese-majeste law. It criminalizes any act of defaming, insulting, or threatening the King, Queen, Heir-apparent, Heir-presumptive, or Regent. Lèse-majesté laws are rare in Europe, though a few countries still have them on the books, including Denmark, Norway, and Spain. Despite increasing domestic and international pressure on Thailand to repeal or revise the provision of its criminal code on lèse-majesté, the military government has not only resisted this pressure but has further The lese-majeste law stipulates that whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years. Large parts of Thai society genuinely believe the King is an actual embodiment of God on earth, whereas the Queen in England plays little more than a rubber stamp role. EPA. Yet, since 2018, roughly one year after a new king, Vajiralongkorn, acceded the throne, the law is subject to a de facto moratorium. An attack against an institution or custom revered by the majority in a society. In 2017, when I was the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, I issued a statement expressing my concern after the Thai authorities The law — one of the strictest in the world — criminalises insults to Thailand’s monarch and his immediate family, and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Thailand’s Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on an accusation that the progressive party Move Forward’s election pledge to amend the lese majeste law was equivalent to an attempt to overthrow the To guarantee its power and authority, the monarchy has been made inviolable through the application of the lese-majeste law. A student faces lese majeste charges for not standing up for the King’s anthem in the cinema7. ) was judicially based and defined in Norway's 1902 Penal Code, which provided fines or prison for this crime. In contrast, Thailand’s lese majeste law (Article 112 of the criminal code) centred on the deep-rooted “Buddhist kingship notion”, Thongchai said. Buddhist kingship encapsulates the status of a Thai monarch who Responding to the pre-trial detention of a 15-year-old girl in Bangkok accused of violating the lèse-majesté law after her participation in a peaceful protest, Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Lese majeste: abuse and benevolence. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your Thai court rules MFP bid to reform lese majeste law violates constitution. Advertisement. She frequently writes on these topics and on European It's not about the Royal's respecting the law or not, Lese Majeste is a law imposed on the commoners. 4, 2023. 6 October 2017. The English name for this crime is a modernised borrowing from the medieval French, where the phrase meant 'a crime against the Crown'. The controversial law is often invoked to censor web content and shut down websites. Her practice focuses on intellectual property, privacy, and social media law. Thailand's lese-majeste law explained. In the past year, the lese majeste law was provoked frequently to restrict An explanation of the demonstrators’ controversial actions is found in their reaction against efforts of the central Thai ruling elite over the past century to modernize Thai law, rationalize its religious administration, and eliminate rival systems in outlying regions. In classical Latin, laes The lese-majeste law, which shields King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from criticism, is often referred to as 112 in Thailand after the relevant section of the criminal code. The question it seeks to address is the raison d’être of the crime; that is, its The law of lese-majeste has been strengthened to reach all levels of society, accusing everyone from government ministers to monks, rubber tappers, students, and even monarchists. This law has been present in Thai politics since 1908, though applied sparingly, only when direct verbal or written attacks against members of the royal family. GENEVA (8 February 2021) – UN human rights experts today expressed grave concerns over Thailand’s increasingly severe use of lèse-majesté laws to curtail criticism of the monarchy, and said they were alarmed that a woman had been sentenced to over 43 years in prison for insulting the royal family. This chapter documents how Thailand’s practice of Sacred Buddhist Kingship builds on the Lèse-majesté Law, with the aim of providing a first analysis of how the dual process of secularization of blasphemy and sacralization of royalty via lèse-majesté throughout Thai modern history worked towards the King’s consolidation of power. Despite the repression on freedom of speech, lèse-majesté continues The lese-majeste law is also the pretext for the likely dissolution of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP), which won last year’s general election but was barred from forming the government The lese majeste law protects the current monarch and if someone is charged for criticising a king who reigned 500 years ago, then something is not normal," Mr Sulak told Khaosod and I agree. In recent years, a bevy of academics, politicians, journalists Critics say the lese majeste law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is often abused as a political weapon. The concept of lèse-majesté grew from the period of absolute monarchies in Europe during which monarchs claimed The crime of lese majeste – insulting the royal family – is a law enforced by monarchies around the globe. The problem in my opinion, aside from the law of course, are the Amidst the current crisis of speech repressions, one of the most crucial but overlooked areas is the lèse-majesté law. Spain used its law in 2007 to prosecute a cartoonist and editor Thailand has revived a controversial law against criticising the royal family in an attempt to curb months of anti-government protests. Article 112 of A woman holds a placard outside the Criminal Court during a protest against article 112, Thailand’s lese majeste royal defamation law, in Bangkok. uchicago. The lese majeste law allows any individual to file a report against anyone with at least 3 to 15 years served in prison. experts, “have no place in a democratic country law is essential, and this report makes clear that the law is fundamentally incompatible with the right to freedom of expression. " [70] Jan 2018 Chanoknan Ruamsap: Pro-democracy activist On January 16, Chanoknan received a summons to a police station two days later, to answer to charges of lèse-majesté following a media article she shared on Facebook. More on: Thailand. Parliament member Rukchanok Srinork of Thailand's opposition Move Forward party arrives at criminal court for the verdict for allegedly violating the lese majeste law in Bangkok, Thailand New information THA 002 / 0923 / OBS 038. The world has acknowledged the regressive character and enforcement of Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, which has unique standing for its brutality among the club of monarchies. This video shows you how to pronounce lese majeste in French (pronunciation guide). Even Move Forward’s very mild proposals for a less severe lese majeste law have led to the party being stripped of its top leaders, just as its previous incarnation Future Forward was four years In less than two years, the number of verdicts in lèse-majesté cases has reached 100, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), and Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) said today. Lese-majeste, or the crime of injury to royalty, is defined by Article They specialised in songs that mocked the lese-majeste law and members of the royal family, performing openly around Bangkok until the coup. (Law) Any crime committed against the sovereign power, or against a ruler. The vaguely worded law was added to The lese majeste law in Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium is located in the section on the security of the state, with penalties ranging from two to five years. com/watch?v= virtue of the law specifically enacted for security of the State or maintaining public order or good morals. The Spokesperson for the Cambodian Council of Ministers, Phay Siphan, reportedly announced on Facebook today that the Council of Ministers had approved “This would effectively mean that the lese majeste law would become untouchable,” said Munin Pongsapan, associate professor at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. The charges lodged against six individuals today appear to be less about the application of law to facts and more about the government’s desire to silence critical voices. GENEVA – Independent experts* have expressed deep disappointment about the dissolution of the Move Forward Party in Thailand, confirmed by a ruling of the Constitutional Court on 7 August. GENEVA (25 March 2024) – UN experts* today expressed alarm over the use of Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws to convict and sentence human rights defender and lawyer, Arnon Nampa. Lèse-majesté or lese-majesty is an offence or defamation against the dignity of a ruling head of state (traditionally a monarch but now more often a president) or of the state itself. The National Assembly of Cambodia has passed a lese majeste law that makes it a crime to insult the country's monarchy. [ PJC ] 3. However, a subtle yet By contrast, I can say what I want about the royals — all royals — because I am outside the reach of the Dutch law; I live in the United States. Thais mourn King Bhumibol, who died last year and is hugely revered. SKIP ADVERTISEMENT. Lese majeste law stifling. Top stories. Constitutional Court says Move Forward Party proposal to amend royal defamation law amounted to attempt to ‘overthrow Under Thai law, it is illegal to defame, insult or threaten King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the queen or the crown prince. She read out a 10-point manifesto urging reforms to the royal institution, including revoking the draconian lèse-majesté law, trimming the monarchy’s budget and banning the The lese-majeste law currently on the books dates to that era, and took its current form in the 1880s. Legal term lèse-majesté in the Thailand Penal Criminal Code, section 107, a crime lese majeste (as treason), insult, offence against the dignity of the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent international law. lese-majeste Thailand Human Rights foreign “This would effectively mean that the lese majeste law would become untouchable,” said Munin Pongsapan, associate professor at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. He also speaks highly of the new king, Maha Thai Legal History - June 2021. The lese-majeste law, which shields King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from criticism, is often referred to as 112 in Thailand after the relevant section of the criminal code. Nithiwat has since been Amid mounting peaceful protests throughout 2020, the Thai authorities resumed the use of lèse majest é charges in November of that year, having brought no new charges under the law since March 2018. , 22 August. But after the May 2014 military coup d'état, Thailand He says let's talk about the lese majeste law whilst acknowledging that no thai journalist or anybody else in thailand can freely talk about the lese majeste law. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. While many Thais, including this author, believe that the lese majeste law remains necessary given Thai ethics and culture, we also recognise that in many cases the law has been abused for political gain in political conflicts. For a detailed analysis, see Mérieau (2019a). In Sweden and Denmark, though, the lese majeste provision is also linked to the normal defamation law which has a punishment of a fine or imprisonment for up to 4 months for minor infractions. According to Section 112 of the Thai penal code, ‘whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne or the Regent shall be punished with A pro-democracy supporter wears a face mask with the sign “no 112”, denouncing a section in the Thai criminal code for lese-majeste laws as she participates in a rally in Bangkok, Thailand Thailand’s lese majeste law: A weapon to silence dissent? Since the 2014 coup, more than 90 people have been prosecuted under the lese majeste law and at least 43 of them have been sentenced. 11 11 See Pitman & Tunsarawuth, supra Among at least 35 activists currently facing charges under the lese majeste law is 16-year-old Napasin Trirayapiwat, who wore a crop top and had anti-monarchy slogans written on his midriff at a KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia does not need lese-majeste laws similar to those of Thailand to protect the sanctity of the royal institution against insults and attacks. A protester with the “Stop 112” the number in the Thai criminal code for lese majeste on her face during protest in front of the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Feb. ” Though it has become increasingly associated with Thailand in recent years, the crime dates back to the Revival of lese majeste Since late last year, authorities have brought lese majeste cases against dozens of protesters after more than two years of the law not being Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. Several activists have been summoned How to say Lèse-majesté in English? Pronunciation of Lèse-majesté with 4 audio pronunciations, 5 translations and more for Lèse-majesté. But over the past decade, Sejarah, Penerapan, dan Dampak Lése-Majesté terhadap Kebebasan Berpendapat di Thailand The meaning of LÈSE-MAJESTÉ is a crime (such as treason) committed against a sovereign power. He believes the lese-majeste law, Article 112, should be abolished for the sake of keeping the royal family strong. He has also been trying to help activists who have been charged with breaching Article Over the past few years, the lese-majeste law has been used frequently against dissidents, including the leaders and participants of the youth-led protests of 2020 and 2021, Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled that the plans to amend the lèse-majesté law amount to an attempt to overthrow the monarchy, so it has ordered the I don't agree with the Lèse-majesté law. 9 See Promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, UN Doc. Known under Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code, the law criminalizes any GENEVA (8 February 2021) – UN human rights experts today expressed grave concerns over Thailand’s increasingly severe use of lèse-majesté laws to curtail criticism of the monarchy, The country’s lese-majeste law, which criminalizes any criticism of the king, the royal family, or the institution of the monarchy, and carries punishments of up to 15 years in Thailand has revived a controversial law against criticising the royal family in an attempt to curb months of anti-government protests. The many ways to get arrested for lese-majeste in Thailand. In Russia it's not lese majeste but government wide mix of British and Polish defamation law. lèse majesté, Lat. Thailand’s Lèse-majesté Law. The widespread use of the law and the manic promotion of the Monarchy by the Military and others, is a green light for royalist thugs and other non-state actors to commit violence or make threats against citizens. youtube. Stud. It became the weapon of choice to undermining political Move Forward Party supporters react after Thailand's Constitutional Court delivered its verdict on a case seeking the party's dissolution over its call for lese-majeste reform, in Bangkok It’s understandable some people wish to publicly grieve the Queen and offer their respects to her and the monarchy. The lawyer has devoted himself to campaigning against the use of Article 112 or the draconian lese majeste law as a political tool against opponents. But few are stricter than Thailand. Siam Legal International does not claim any rights over the republication of Thai laws within this website. Bangkok: Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute, et al. Thailand lese-majeste: UN urges amendment to law. If you use the freedom, they charge you. 1. -Thailand relationship, the Thai government announced that the U. pos>n. That the role of the monarchy could not be Lese majeste (lez majest-ay) comes from the Latin laesa maiestas, or “injured majesty. He has provided free legal assistance, including representation in litigation, to individuals in vulnerable situations, The 25-year jail term came just days after the Election Commission ordered the disbanding of a major opposition party for advocating the reform of the lese-majeste law. Although the vast majority of cases of lese majeste have been brought against Thai people, the law applies to foreigners too. 73. In Thailand, defaming, insulting or threatening the royal family carries a penalty of three to fifteen years’ imprisonment. lese majesty or leze majesty (both: lēz mă´jĬstē) [Fr. It isn’t easy, but it is the price you have to pay. It has been increasingly enforced ever since the Thai military took power Lèse-majesté is the crime of insulting the dignity of a monarch, a ruling head of state, or the state itself. The offense as such first appeared in Rome, though not . Thailand court bans Move Forward Party The Constitutional Court ordered dissolution of the party, which won elections last year, saying it violated the constitution by proposing to amend the law Parliament member Rukchanok Srinork of Thailand's opposition Move Forward party arrives at criminal court for the verdict for allegedly violating the lese majeste law in Bangkok, Thailand The case is indicative of spiraling political prosecutions in Thailand exacted through lèse majesté, otherwise known as Article 112. Anyone can file a charge against anyone for violation of the lèse-majesté law. 4/1999/64, §28. Over the past century, Sulak Sivaraksa and the Charge of Lese Majeste in Siam 1991–1993. 17, 2018. Translated from French as “injured crown”, this draconian law criminalizes the act of insulting crowned figures and heads of states, often resulting in fines or imprisonment. According to public opinion polls, the royals enjoy tremendous approval. Cambodia passes lese majeste law 02/14/2018 February 14, 2018. Thailand’s MFP Remains Defiant as Crucial Court Decision Looms – The Diplomat Sulak Sivaraksa arrives for a court hearing where Thailand's military prosecutor will decide whether to proceed with a lese majeste case against him, in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. It is regarded officially as a national security law, and it is extremely rare for judges to acquit Mr Vacharaesorn said he had attended an exhibition about the lese-majeste law, Faces Of Victims Of 112, at Columbia University in New York organised by Thai dissident This presentation is about the history of a crime that has been largely neglected by the scholars of freedom of expression: Lèse-majesté, or seditious libel. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Often related to political conflicts, accusations of lèse majesté were frequent in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, and many cases resulted in execution. GENEVA (10 October 2011) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, today urged the Government of Thailand to amend its laws on lèse majesté. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from UNHCR's The constitution provides for freedom of speech, but so far Thais don’t actually have it. 5 Sentencing / Arbitrary detention / Judicial harassment Thailand December 20, 2024. This is known as the Thai lèse-majesté laws. Then-party leader and now-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had said that royal defamation cases were problematic because anyone could file charges – a fact that has allowed the law to be used as a political weapon. Thailand’s lèse-majesté law allows for up to 15 years’ imprisonment for acts deemed to threaten, insult or defame the King, Queen, Heir-Apparent or Regent. E/CN. 16 December 2015. Cambodia should halt efforts to radically limit the right to freedom of expression through adoption of lèse-majesté legislation which would criminalize the exercise of some expression, said the ICJ today. edu/ international_immersion_program_papers GENEVA (7 February 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, today called on the Thai authorities to stop using lèse-majesté provisions as a political tool to stifle critical speech. If you are in Thailand or planning to visit it’s something that This makes it particularly easy for arch-royalists to use the draconian law to try to stifle any discussion of the monarchy and the law itself, which does not exist in other constitutional monarchies. It reveals outstanding scholarship by both Thai and international scholars, and will be of interest to JURIST Guest Columnist Jean-Marie Kamatali, of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, discusses the use and misuse of lèse-majesté. N. Marie-Andrée Weiss is a solo attorney admitted in New York, and her admission is pending in France. laesae maiestatis (crimen)=(crime of) violating majesty], offense against the dignity of the sovereign of a state or of a state itself. ” Though it has become increasingly associated with Thailand in recent years, the His coronation 55 Constitutional Court Decision 28-29/2555, 10 October 2012. Any affront to the dignity of an eminent or respected person. Some European lawmakers are pressuring the EU to include tougher demands on Thailand to reform its taboo lese majeste law that imposes lengthy prison sentences on those who criticize the monarchy Lese majesty. Issues related to the monarchy are traditionally considered sensitive. Did you know? Lèse-majesté in Thailand codified in Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, is among the strictest in the world. Pita and other Move Forward Party members make a pro-democracy salute during a demonstration against Thailand’s lese majeste law, in Chiang Mai on Feb. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been indicted on lese majeste charges, authorities said Wednesday, the latest twist in a decades-long political saga in the Southeast Article 112 of Thailand’s criminal code is often described as the world’s harshest Lese Majeste (anti-royal insult) law. S. The meaning of LÈSE-MAJESTÉ is a crime (such as treason) committed against a sovereign power. Responding to the news that Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled in support of the Election Commission of Thailand’s (ECT) request to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) due to their campaign to reform the The lese-majeste law is notoriously broad, which makes mounting a legal defence very difficult. But those who disagree with the monarchy also have a right to freedom of speech. Several activists have been summoned to face United Nations independent human rights experts on Monday voiced grave concerns over increasingly severe use of lèse-majesté laws in Thailand, warning that a rise in their usage is further restricting civic space Lèse majesté in Norway (Norwegian: majestetsfornærmelse, majestetsforbrytelse, crimen (læsæ) majestatis, etc. In Thailand, lèse-majesté is a crime according to Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, which makes it illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the king of Thailand, the queen of Thailand, the heir to the throne of Thailand, or the Thailand's lese-majeste law, which forbids the insult of the monarchy, is among the strictest in the world. A repressive law limiting criticism of the Thai monarchy has placed the current king beyond reproach, but popular discontent with the legislation and the monarchy is growing. ambassador in Bangkok A Comparative Analysis of Defamation Law in the United States and Thailand’s Lèse–Majesté Law: Lessons from the Land of Smiles (But Where the King Never Kings in the Age of Nations: The Paradox of Lese-Majeste as Political Crime in Thailand, 37 Comp. Some Thai anti-government protesters demanded reforms to the monarchy and the strict lese majeste law in unusually frank comments at a demonstration on Monday. A contributor of Global Voices went to Bangkok and interviewed a former staff of the Committee to Investigate Lese Majeste Cases in the Royal Thai Police. “We are dismayed by the undemocratic use of the lèse-majesté law as a political tool to dissolve the party that won the largest number of seats in the last general Lese majeste law applies to foreigners. The report makes practical recommendations to address the human rights violations that derive from the enforcement of Article 112 and to ensure its compliance with Thailand’s human rights obligations under international law. Unlike in other countries where the royal family is widely mocked (Britain) or more or less ignored (Norway), Thai law makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten “the King, the Queen, the The lese majeste law was briefly suspended at the start of the reign of King Vajiralongkorn in 2019, but has been revived and used extensively since the outbreak of unprecedented student-led Asked about the accusation at the time, Malin had said that “before the King signs it is still a draft law, and not valid for implementation”. 4/2003/67, 30 December 2002, para. Photo: Jack Taylor/AFP As The law includes within its definition of a “seditious tendency” an act that “bring(s) into hatred or contempt” or “excites(s) disaffection against any ruler. The goal of Thailand Law library is to maintain a repository of the laws of Thailand for the general public. While the complaint to the Constitutional Court on Move Forward and its policy on the royal During a universal periodic review on Wednesday by a working group of the U. A 19-year-old pro-democracy activist in Bangkok was sentenced to a year in jail for mocking the king, as the prospects of royal defamation reform dim. PART THREE : Lese Majeste Offence andIts Abuse for Political Gain. In the Kingdom of Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia with nearly 70 million people, it is still a criminal offence to criticise the King and his royal family. Arnon Nampa is a founding member of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). Amnesty International is concerned that authorities have used the law to imprison individuals for peaceful acts of criticism, and has IN THAILAND, CENSORSHIP has reached an alarming level whereby criticism against the country’s most powerful political institution – the monarchy – is mercilessly penalised by a lengthy prison term, under the draconian lèse-majesté law. Published. This book makes the case that despite the appearance of growing democratization, authoritarian structures and urges still drive politics in Thailand; the long-term effects of defamation law adjudication has skewed the way that Lese Majeste - the law which forbids people from insulting the head of state or royalty has been responsible for many foreigners ending up in prison when overseas. Thai authorities should end all legal Amid worsening restrictions on free expression and political debate in Cambodia, two people have become the first to be charged under a controversial new lèse-majesté law. Human Rights Council, Thailand was urged to amend its lese majeste law by some member states who said it restricted For years, human rights organizations and free speech campaigners have said the lese majeste law has been used as a political tool to silence critics of the Thai government. Politics and Government. We are very concerned by the rise in the number of lèse majesté prosecutions in Thailand since 2014 and the severity of the sentencing, including a 35-year jail term handed down last Friday against one individual. 20, 2021. Even Move Forward’s very mild proposals for a less severe lese majeste law have led to the party being stripped of its top leaders, just as its previous incarnation Future Forward was four years The lese-majeste law, Section 112 of the Criminal Code, carries penalties ranging from 3 to 15 years in jail for each perceived insult of the king, queen, heir to the throne or regent. The law is taken seriously by the courts, with some of Thailand’s most To quell criticisms against the monarchy, the Thai state exploited the lèse-majesté law as a tool to ensure regime stability, resulting in devastating human rights violations. Whereas the monarchy was mostly considered sacrosanct under the popular former king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away in 2016, Lese majeste laws are therefore fundamentally incompatible with international human rights law and, as repeatedly emphasized by various U. The country’s lèse-majesté law, which makes insulting the king punishable by years in prison, is being used against the protesters’ leadership for the first time. Lese majeste (lez majest-ay) comes from the Latin laesa maiestas, or “injured majesty. At one hearing a defendant charged with lese-majeste leaped up to stand on a courtroom bench, protesting his lengthy detention and calling the lese-majeste law “a cancer on society. 56 Constitutional Court Decision 19/2564, 10 November 2020. ” While campaigning before last year’s general election, Pheu Thai said that Article 112 cases ought to be included in an Amnesty Act. "The court said they are sympathetic to her [because she's blind] but said the law is the law. Following the 2006 coup that overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand saw a sharp rise of lèse-majesté charges. Thais It deals with pre-modern law, the civil law reforms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the constitutional developments post-1932. More than Thailand’s lese majeste law makes it a crime to defame, insult or threaten King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family. [email protected] +44 0330 027 0207 or +1 (818) 532-6908 +44 The lese-majeste law, as it is commonly known, has been used to prosecute at least 228 people who helped organize large-scale political protests in 2020 and 2021, Thai politics has come full circle, with the upcoming election shaping up to be another power grab between representatives of the country’s conservative establishment and the Shinawatra family. cbngmp gxaou ddduy vwifsb xnun nzioon dsknrt kdqpvpkk uemjx jdnt