Thailand: Sentencing of human rights lawyer and prominent pro-democracy activist Anon Nampa

The Observatory has been informed about the sentencing and subsequent arbitrary detention of Mr Anon Nampa, prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer.

On September 26, 2023, the Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced Anon Nampa to four years in prison, on one count of “lèse-majesté” (Article 112 of Thailand Criminal Code), and a fine of 20,000 baht (approximately 525 Euros) for violation of the Emergency Decree. The case stemmed from a speech Mr Anon delivered on October 14, 2020, at a peaceful demonstration at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, where protesters had gathered to call on the government to comply with the three demands put forward by the pro-democracy movement that began in February 2020, including a reform of the Thai monarchy.1 Mr Anon was charged with “lèse-majesté” over his statements referring to King Rama X as the person with the sole authority to order the dispersal of protests, instead of the riot police.

After the trial, Mr Anon was detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison, pending a decision by the Court of Appeals on his bail request, expected in the next few days. Mr Anon’s lawyers are planning to appeal his conviction and prison sentence.

The Observatory recalls that this case is the first of the 14 “lèse-majesté” cases against Anon Nampa. In this case, Mr Anon was indicted on October 7, 2021, while he was detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he had been held since August 9, 2021 in relation to another “lèse-majesté” case. His temporary release requests were denied seven times before eventually getting approved on February 22, 2022. However, he remained detained under two other cases until eventually being released on bail February 28, 2022.

The Observatory further recalls that Anon Nampa was previously detained for 113 days, from February 9, to June 1, 2021, on charges of “lèse-majesté” and “sedition” (Article 116 of Thailand Criminal Code) in connection with a speech concerning the Thai monarchy he made at a peaceful pro-democracy protest at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang on September 19, 2020.

The Observatory notes with concern that between November 24, 2020, and September 22, 2023, 257 people, including many human rights defenders and 17 minors, were charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Eight of them are currently detained pending trial, and three more after being found guilty of “lèse-majesté”.

The Observatory strongly condemns the conviction, sentencing, and subsequent arbitrary detention of Anon Nampa, and the ongoing judicial harassment against him, which seem to be only aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in the country and to put an end to the judicial harassment against them.

1 The three demands were: 1) the resignation of Prime Minster Prayuth Chan-ocha; 2) the reform of the monarchy; and 3) the drafting of a new constitution.