Thai Activist Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Royal Insult Law
Tantawan Tuatulanon was convicted over a 2022 live stream questioning police conduct near a royal motorcade.
Quick Look
A Thai criminal court sentenced 25-year-old activist Tantawan Tuatulanon to two years in prison for violating the lese-majeste law during a 2022 live stream questioning police actions near a royal motorcade.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Thailand has strict royal insult laws known as lese-majeste, criminalizing defamation of the monarchy.
A Thai court has sentenced a 25-year-old activist to two years in prison for violating the country’s strict royal insult law, a rights group said, with her lawyer on Tuesday vowing to appeal.
A criminal court convicted Tantawan Tuatulanon on Monday over a live streaming she aired near a royal motorcade in March 2022, legal advocacy group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said in a statement.
The court found Tantawan intended to defame Thailand’s highly revered monarchy when she questioned the conduct of police who dispersed farmers protesting along the route of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s motorcade in the capital, Bangkok.
The court said she had insulted the monarchy on multiple occasions, showing her conduct was “not a good-faith exercise of rights”, the group said.
Tantawan denied charges of breaching Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law.
Her lawyer Khumklao Songsomboon said that she would file an appeal, insisting on her client’s innocence.
“This is simply an exercise of freedom of speech questioning the police’s work and right to assembly,” said Khumklao.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Lawyer Khumklao Songsomboon will file an appeal against the conviction.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When will the legal appeal be formally filed?
