Opposition MP sentenced to two years in prison

Three years ago, Thai lawmaker Chonthicha Jangrew gave a speech at an anti-government protest. She has now been sentenced to two years in prison for insulting the monarchy. Jangrew was sentenced by a court on May 27. She is a lawmaker for the opposition Move Forward party in Thailand, which has one of the strictest laws protecting the monarchy from criticism.

Thailand's lèse majesté laws are so harsh that a person can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for insulting the monarchy. The lawmaker denied accusations of insulting the monarchy and was released on bail pending an appeal against the decision.

Besides Jangrew, another Thai court sentenced musician Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan to four years in prison for burning a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The musician was found guilty of arson, lese majeste and computer crimes.

ADVANCE PARTY FIGHT MANY BATTLES

The Move Forward party, to which Jangrew belongs, holds the largest number of seats in parliament but also has legal battles to fight. The Party campaigned to change lèse majesté laws, but a court ruled against the plan earlier this year and instead accused the Party of trying to violate the constitution. In January, the Constitutional Court ordered the Move Forward party to end its campaign, calling it “damaging to the monarchy.”

The party also faces disbandment after a court ruled against its proposed amendment, calling it a hidden effort to undermine Thailand's system of governance, in which the king is head of state . The Party said it was not trying to insult the monarchy. He wants to prevent the law from being misused as a political weapon.

HOW THE RIGHT OF LESE-MAJESTE WAS USED

Last year, Rukchanok Srinork, a lawmaker from the Move Forward party, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for social media posts criticizing the monarchy. Legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which defends many accused under the strict law, says more than 272 people have been charged under the lese majeste law since 2020, including 17 in detention provisional. Two weeks ago, activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom died in pretrial detention on charges of royal insult, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

In 2021, a 65-year-old woman was sentenced to 43 years in prison for posting messages critical of the monarchy on social media.

In 2023, a man was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He was sentenced to an additional 22 years in prison in January after appealing a verdict over his social media posts regarding the monarchy.