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.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 58-year-old US academic Dr Paul Chambers has also had his visa revoked. It was reported that the police requested a search warrant and searched Chambers’ office at Naresuan University. Chamber’s laptop was confiscated. The police report said it would take around five days to check before returning it to the Faculty.

Chambers was initially granted bail on Wednesday (9 April) with 300,000 baht as security after his lawyer appealed the Phitsanulok Provincial Court’s decision to deny him bail. He was released on the condition that he wear an electronic monitoring device and not travel abroad unless allowed by the court. He also had his passport confiscated.

However, as his visa had been revoked, he remained in detention at the immigration office while his lawyers appealed the visa revocation. His lawyer filed a bail request with the Immigration Bureau so that he could stay in Thailand.

The Immigration Bureau on Thursday (10 April) granted him a provisional bail with another 300,000 baht as security. Chambers is required to report to officials every 30 days.

Chambers reported to the police at Mueang Phitsanulok Police Station Tuesday (8 April) after learning last week that the 3^rdArmy Area was pressing charges against him for royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act and that an arrest warrant was issued for him on 31 March.

It was previously reported that Chambers was being charged with importing into a computer system information that affects national security under Section 14(3) the Computer Crimes Act. However, the police instead formally charged him with importing into a computer system forged or false data that is likely to cause damage to a third party or the public under Section 14(1) of the Computer Crimes Act.

A TLHR lawyer said a military officer filed charges against Chambers on behalf of the 3^rd Army Area over a blurb on the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute’s website, which Chambers said he did not write or publish because he is not an admin for the site.

An American political scientist, Chambers’ research focuses on civil-military relations in Southeast Asia, particularly the role and influence of the military in Thailand. He has also written on the relationship between the military and the monarchy. He now serves as a lecturer at the Center of ASEAN Community Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University. His notable works include “Praetorian Kingdom: A History of Military Ascendancy in Thailand” and “Khaki Capital: The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia”.

The US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce issued a statement on Wednesday (9 April) regarding the arrest of Chambers. The Department stated that it was “alarmed” by the arrest and detention.

"We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression. As a treaty ally of Thailand, we will closely monitor this issue and advocate for the fair treatment of Paul Chambers," said the statement.