Twenty-five years into the 21st century, Thailand’s relentless legal machine continues to crush political dissent. As royal defamation cases against activists are brought to court, legal scholar Somchai Preechasilpakul has been summoned to testify as an expert witness in several trials of high-profile activists. Prachatai speaks to Somchai about his experience in court and the failings of the Thai justice system in these trials.

American academic Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University’s Faculty of Social Sciences who was charged with royal defamation, has been granted provisional bail, with 600,000 baht as security. He was required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

The US Department of State is "alarmed" by the Thai authorities' arrest of US academic Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University's Faculty of Social Sciences, said department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

The Phitsanulok Provincial Court today (8 April) denied bail for Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, who was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. He will be detained while his lawyers appeal the Court’s decision.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, after a royal defamation complaint was filed against him by the Army.

Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa has been sentenced to two years in prison for a seventh royal defamation case related to a speech he delivered during a 2020 protest at Chiang Mai University. He is currently facing a total of 20 years for royal defamation.

Three activists have been found guilty of royal defamation and given suspended sentences over speeches given at a protest on 24 June 2021, after a judge ruled that defaming deceased kings also constituted an offence under the royal defamation law.

A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to prison on a royal defamation charge over a comment on a Facebook page. Due to his guilty plea, he was given a suspended sentence.

In response to the European Parliament's resolution condemning Thailand's use of the royal defamation law, detained human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa wrote an open letter thanking the European Parliament for its concern and calling for a resolution imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials and other individuals involved in the enforcement of the royal defamation law.

Detained student activist Sirapob Phumphengphut has been admitted to Thammasat University Hospital after spending 22 days on a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday (14 March) condemning Thailand's deportation of Uyghur refugees to China and its use of the royal defamation law. MEPs called on the Commission to leverage free trade agreement negotiations to demand reform.

Section 6 of the Constitution, which places the King in a revered and inviolable position, has been used to justify guilty verdicts in royal defamation cases. This has raised concerns about the erosion of the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Somchai Prechasilpakul, lecturer at Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Law, says that the broad interpretation of Section 6 is a dangerous development that will intensify calls for judicial reform.