Cover Photo: Chanakarn Laosarakham

Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Rukchanok Srinork has been sentenced to 6 years in prison on a royal defamation charge over two tweets about a COVID-19 vaccine monopoly and the monarchy in 2021. The court later granted her bail to appeal.

On 13 December, the court delivered its scheduled verdict in the case of MFP MP Rukchanok Srinork, also known as Ice, a former activist, who was charged under the royal defamation law and the Computer-Related Crime.

Rukchanok was accompanied by MFP chief advisor Pita Limjaroenrat and party leader Chaithawat Tulathon.

Rukchanok was found guilty under the royal defamation law and the Computer-Related Crime Act, which constituted multiple offences for a single act. The court sentenced her to 6 years in prison without suspension.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that Rukchanok was later granted provisional bail on the same day with 500,000 baht as security, divided into 300,000 baht in cash and 200,000 baht from the MP status of Chaithawat. The bail was granted on the condition that she must not engage or participate in any activities similar to the charges in the indictment.

As a result, she will not lose her seat in parliament and can continue to perform her parliamentary duties as an MP.

Rukchanok faced two charges over the tweets in July and October 2021. The complaint was filed by Manirat Laowaloet with the Technology Crime Suppression Division, requesting legal action against Rukchanok, who was then a member of the Clubhouse for Democracy.

According to TLHR, Rukchanok's first message criticized the government’s decision to allow a licence to only one company to produce the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which caused a vaccine shortage affecting the lives of people. She also attached her picture standing next to the image of King Vajiralongkorn and holding a banner that read “Tyrant (noun); Ruler of the country who uses their power to cause suffering to those under their rule.”

In the second message, Rukchanok reposted a message from a Twitter (now X) account expressing dissatisfaction towards the King, which stated that “the people will not be free until the feudalist (sakdina) group has been eliminated.”

She denied all charges and was indicted on 23 March 2022. At the time, Rukchanok was granted bail with 100,000 baht as security.

Rukchanok is a newly-elected MP from the MFP. She shocked the whole country by winning in Bangkok’s Constituency 28, which had previously been the stronghold of the Yubamrung family.

In a press release from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Board Member Arlene Brosas, who is a member of the Philippines House of Representatives, decried the verdict. “We are deeply dismayed by this verdict and stand in solidarity with Rukchanok Srinork. Peacefully expressing one’s political opinions should not result in criminal prosecution, much less six years imprisonment.”

MP Brosas went on to refer to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s statement at the UN General Assembly where he promised ‘advancement of human rights at home and abroad.’  She called on him to prove the sincerity of his words.