A 77-year-old has been sentenced to prison for royal defamation over a protest speech that she delivered on 26 July 2023. She was given a two-year suspension and required to attend a dhamma training program. She is also considered the eldest person to be prosecuted under royal defamation law following the mass protests in 2020.

A 77-year-old Chiraphon Butpaket was charged with royal defamation over her speech during a protest on 26 July 2023 at the Sanya Dharmasakti Monument, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

On that day, several protesters delivered speeches. At 6.40 pm, an anonymous participant, later identified as Chiraphon, took to the stage and delivered a speech. She was seen raising a three-finger salute, a well-known symbol of resistance. Chiraphon allegedly expressed her opinion in a way that suggested she did not want the King to be above the law, and she also criticised past coups, raising concerns that the King supported and ratified them.

A complaint against Chiraphon was filed by Anon Klinkaew, leader of the ultra-royalist group People's Centre to Protect the Monarchy, who has filed several royal defamation complaints against activists and netizens and has been involved in violent attacks on pro-democracy activists and citizen journalists.

According to TLHR, the Thanyaburi Provincial Court ruled that Chiraphon was guilty as charged and sentenced her to three years in prison. Due to her guilty plea, the term was reduced to one year and six months.

Given that she had never been imprisoned, she was given a two-year suspension and one year of probation. She was also required to report to the probation officer every three months and to attend a dhamma training program once a month.

In an interview with TLHR, Chiraphon related that she began her activism during the 14 October 1973 incident, where thousands of people rose up against the military dictatorship. She said state suppression had never intimidated her.

After the incident, she remained active in pro-democracy movements, including the Red Shirt Movement. Following the 2014 coup, she was summoned by the coup maker, the National Council for Peace and Order, for her previous political activities.

She became increasingly frustrated with the state's abuse of power and suppression of the people. Since then, she has continued to attend pro-democracy protests, particularly the youth-led mass protests in 2020.

The speech on 26 July 2023 was one of the few times in her life that she had taken a microphone and delivered a protest speech.  “At the time, I did not realise that I would face a royal defamation charge. … I believed that I was telling the truth, not defaming anyone. It was history,” said Chiraphon.

Chiraphon is considered the eldest person to be prosecuted under royal defamation law following the mass protests in 2020.