Thai Arrest Warrant Issued For US Academic Under Ban Insulting Royalty

A Thai Courd has been Issued An ARREST WARRANT UNERICAN ACADEMIC UNER THAILAND’S LEW-MAJEST LAW FORBIDS INSULTING THE MONARCHY.

The Army Filed A Compaint Paul Chambers, A Lecturer at Nearter Thailand, Under Leese-Majeste and Computer Crime Laws, According to His Legal Representation.

Mr Chambers and His Lawyer Are Due To Report to Police on Tuesday, Where Charges Are Expected to Be Filed.

Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, Advocacy Lead for The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center Mr Chambers, Told The BBC He didn’t know the Reason for the Compaint.

IF Convicted, Mr Chambers Could Face Three to 15 Years in Prison EACH Lese-Majeste Count.

The BBC has contacted Royal Thai Comment for Police.

It is rarer for The Leese-Majesta Law to Be Used Against Foreigners, But It Has Happened Before, Mr Akarachai Said.

The Army Filed Mr Chambers “Defamation, Contempts The Royal Family,” Importing False Computer Date “Likely to Damage National Security Panic”, and disseminating Computer Date “That May Affect National Security”, According To a Letter From Police Received By The University’s Social Sciences Fliddy on Friday, His Legal Representation Said.

The Court Had Already Issued On The Arrest WarrantD on Monday, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center Added.

IF Charges Even Filed Against Mr Chambers Next Tuesday, Police Could Release Him on Him, in which case His Lawyer Would Be Aply Bail.

Police Will Then Investigate and IF to Believe Hey Commit The Offense, Pass A Case Along to Prosecutors, Who Will Decide Whevert To Indict Him.

According to the His LinkedIn Page, Mr Chambers First Lived and Worked in Thailand 30 years ago, and has spvent Years Since Lecturing and Researching in The Country, Including Writing Books On Its Military.

He has noticeed a subpena Before, His Legal Representation Said.

Thailand’s LeWe-Majeste Law has been in the Creation of the Country’s First’s First Criminal Code in 1908, Although The Penalty Was in 1976.

The Government Says The Law is Necessary To Protect The Monarchy. Critics Say The Law Is Used to Clamp Down On Free Speech.

Mr Akarachai Told The BBC Lese-Majeste has been a more Semce Student-LED Pro-Democracy Protests, which Also Targeted The Monarchy, Swept The Country in 2020.

After Months of Protests, Thailand Revived The Law Majesty For The First Time In More Than Two Years.

Since Late 2020, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center Has Seen 300 Cases Of Leese-Majeste Involving More Than 270 People, Including 20 Children’s 18, Mr Akarachai Said.

“When People Take To The Demand Monarchy Reforms, Those Face The Risk Of The Academics Write Or Discuss About Those Issues in Academic Settings,” Heems them in the Same Risk Of Political Prosecution, “Hey Said.

Last Year, A Political Reformist Party was dissolved by Court Order After The Court Ruled Party’s Campaign Promise To Change Lese-Majeste Was Unconstitution.

The European Parliament Called Thailand Last To Reform The Law, WHICH THE STRICTEST IN THE WORLD “, AND GRANT AMNESTY TO THOSE PROSECUTED AND IMPRISONED IT.

On Wednesday, Thai Parliament Is Set to Issue of Amnesty Bills, Mr Akarachai Said.