Two pro-democracy activists have been sentenced to prison for royal defamation over protest speeches they delivered in Chaiyaphum Province in 2021.

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa and Atthapol Buapat, pro-democracy activists, were sentenced to prison for royal defamation for protest speeches they made in front of the Phu Khiao Police Station and Phu Khiao School on 1 February 2021, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

On that day, the “Ratsadon” group staged a protest, calling on the police to apologise to students who were intimidated by police officers after they registered for a “Ratsadon On Tour” camp, a forum for opinion exchange and discussions of problems in Thai society. 26 people, including 15 and 18-year-old students, received summonses, for allegedly violating the Emergency Decree. Three of the summonses were later dismissed.

Jatupat and Atthapol were charged with 4 offences: royal defamation, sedition, violating the Emergency Decree, and the unauthorised use of a sound amplifier. The speeches they gave, which raised the subject of monarchy reform but did not mention any particular king by name, were deemed to defamatory of the Royal Institution. Jatupat compared the financial standing of the monarchy with that of the people and called for the amendment of the Constitution. Atthapol called for reducing the royal budget.

Another activist, Panupong Jadnok, was also charged in the case, but he did not show up at the court.

According to TLHR, the defendants were initially sentenced to three years in prison.  As Jatupat had been given an additional one year and three months in prison for repeating the offence, his cumulative sentence was four years and six months. Due to his ‘helpful testimony’, the court reduced his sentence to two years and twelve months. The court also dismissed three of the charges – sedition, violating the Emergency Decree, and the unauthorised use of a sound amplifier- brought against Atthapol, jailing him for two years for royal defamation.

Their lawyers have filed bail requests, pending appeal. They are currently being detained at the Phu Khiao Prison.

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