Protests took place last week in Chiang Mai’s old town to show support for detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and demand the release of activists and protesters detained on charges relating to political expression.

A Protester held up a poster with pictures of political prisoners, while another is seen holding a banner calling for amnesty for those charged for political expression.

On 9 – 10 January, protesters stood for 1 hour and 12 minutes along the road passing Tha Phae gate, a tourist landmark in Chiang Mai’s old town, to demand the release of political prisoners and to show support for Anon, who was attending a witness examination hearing at the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.

Many protesters came from other provinces, including Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, to support Anon at the hearing. Activist Napatsorn Boonree, who came from Bangkok, said that Anon’s detention was unfair since the court has not reached a final verdict. She also noted the effects of his detention on his family, asking how the court would make it up for him if charges against him were eventually dropped.

“The judges and prosecutors, each of them probably has a family. Anon also has a child. Right now, when his wife goes to court, she carries their son with her. The son is starting to push his father away. He used to let his father hold him,” Napatsorn said.

“Father and son should be together, but your justice separated the father from his child. Is that right? His case has not ended. You should be finding out the truth of whether he really did something wrong.”

Ma, another protester, said that refusing bail for people charged with royal defamation is a violation of their rights and that anyone whose case has not reached a final verdict should be granted bail.

“My feeling is that it’s unjust for intellectual fighters, and I want to tell Anon to keep fighting. Those of us who are outside will also fight. Time is moving forward every second. Something has to change. Nothing lasts forever,” she said.

Protesters standing along the foothpath, several holding signs calling for the release of political prisoners.

Chantana Warakornsakulkij, a Red Shirt protester who was sentenced to jail for weapons possession and released in 2022 after 7 years, also joined the protest. She said that every citizen has the right to bail, but it is often up to a judge’s discretion whether a person is granted bail. She questioned why those accused of murder or sexual assault can be granted bail, while political prisoners are detained for exercising their freedom of expression.

“I want to ask what discretion the judge is using. Many cases, like murder or rape, these people got bail. Are you not afraid of them running away? The judges, with their discretion, are not afraid of these people running away, but what about people who dare to speak the truth like Anon or Get [Sopon Surariddhidhamrong], who said something critical made in good faith?” Chantana asked.

“Lawyer Anon knows that what he said could be said in a democracy, but why is he charged with Section 112 [royal defamation]? Anon’s behaviour is also clear, he will not run away and has never thought of running away. Why does the court not see this?”

Chantana also said that the protesters went to court to see Anon, but were not allowed to, even though court officials told them that they could see him. She said that court officials immediately took him away after only two people had seen him, and that there were also a large number of officers stationed at the court during the hearing.

Some police officers were seen monitoring the protest on 10 January and taking pictures of a graffiti saying “Repeal Section 112” painted on the ground near Tha Phae gate.

24 people remain in detention pending trial or appeal on charges relating to participation in pro-democracy protests. Of this number, 15 are detained pending trial or appeal on a royal defamation charges, including Anon, who has been detained since 26 September 2023.