The public prosecutor has decided not to indict US academic Dr Paul Chambers on charges of royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act.

Chambers was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act after a complaint was filed against him over a blurb on the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute’s website promoting a webinar, which Chambers said he did not write or publish because he is not an admin for the site.

Chambers reported to the police at Muang Phitsanulok Police Station on 8 April after learning that an arrest warrant had been issued for him. He was subsequently denied bail and had his visa revoked. He was detained for a night before being released on provisional bail.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) told the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Armed Forces that ISOC Region 3 filed a complaint against Chambers based on a Facebook post by a self-styled independent academic, Atsadang Yommanak.

Sakkasem Nisaiyok, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, said in a press release yesterday (1 May) that the Director-General of Region 6 Public Prosecutors Office has recommended that all charges against Chambers be dropped. The Public Prosecutor in Phitsanulok will inform the police, who will decide whether to object to the recommendation.

An American political scientist, Chambers has published research 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”.