In Bangkok, Thai authorities have pressed criminal charges against an American academic residing in Thailand, accusing him of monarchy defamation, a crime which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. The accused, Paul Chambers, who lectures in political science, shared that law enforcement from Naresuan University in Phitsanulok’s northern province served him with an arrest warrant at his workplace. He was told to appear at the local police station to acknowledge the charges.
Chambers plans to present himself to authorities on Tuesday, with hopes of securing bail. “I’m currently stuck in a situation where I’m unable to leave. I’m not supposed to,” he expressed. “The future is uncertain, and it’s making me anxious.”
The police summons suggests that the regional army command has pressed charges against Chambers, citing the monarchy defamation law and the Computer Crime Act. The communication, signed by Phitsanulok City police chief Watcharapong Sitthirungroj and approved by the Provincial Court, reflects these allegations. When initially contacted, Watcharapong claimed ignorance of the charges but refrained from commenting further when asked about his signature.
The document identifies the 3rd Army Area, covering Thailand’s northern region, as the complainant; however, they were unavailable for comments, as was the army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree at the time. The summons provided no specific details about the alleged offense, but Chambers suspects that it pertains to his participation in a webinar from the previous October, where he spoke about military influence in Thai politics.
Thailand’s lese majeste laws, which hold severe penalties of three to 15 years’ imprisonment for anyone accused of defaming the royal family, have stirred controversy. Critics argue that these laws, among the world’s strictest, have been used as tools to suppress government critics and silence opposition to powerful institutions, including the military. This institution has been deeply involved in politics, having successfully executed 13 coups since 1932, the last being just over a decade ago.
While it’s unusual for a foreign national to face lese majeste charges, in the past decade, the law has been increasingly enforced amid a politically polarized atmosphere. Public criticism of the monarchy used to be rare until pro-democracy student protests in 2020 challenged the status quo, openly criticizing the monarchy and prompting a surge in prosecutions under this once rarely used law.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, an advocacy group, notes that since 2020, over 270 individuals, predominantly student activists, have been charged under the lese majeste law, widely recognized as Article 112.