A protest on Sunday (20 February 2022) at Tha Pae gate in Chiang Mai city called for the repeal of the royal defamation law, or Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code.
A performance by the Chiang Mai theatre group Lanyim Theatre
During the protest, which was organized by several activist groups in the northern provinces, as well as the activist group Thalufah and the legal watchdog NGO iLaw, a poll was conducted on whether the royal defamation law should be repealed. Participants could also sign the petition proposing the repeal of Section 112, while activists threw papers with messages such as “Repeal Section 112” and “Reform is not overthrow.” The Chiang Mai theatre group Lanyim Theatre performed during the protest.
A panel discussion on the royal defamation law also took place, featuring student activists Phinit Thongkham and Thanatorn Wittayabenjang, artist Mit Jai Inn, and iLaw manager Yingcheep Atchanont.
Phinit, a student at Thammasat University’s Lampang campus, said that he was charged with royal defamation for hanging a banner saying “The budget for the monarchy is higher than the budget for Covid-19 vaccine” from the Ratsadaphisek Bridge in Lampang city. Phinit said that he had already researched how much budget was being allocated to the monarchy while the Covid-19 death toll was rising, leading him to question why the government is not using the budget to buy vaccine or support the people during the pandemic.
Thanatorn, a student at Chiang Mai University, has also been charged with royal defamation. He said that the charge creates a burden for him, since he has to report to the village chief every 14 days, and is not allowed to leave the country. He insisted that the royal defamation law should be repealed.
Chiang Mai artist Mit Jai Inn said he has been campaigning for the repeal of the royal defamation law for the past 10 years and questioned whether the monarchy as it is still suits current Thai society, and whether the use of the royal defamation law is fair. He said that the law is being used to prosecute a large number of young political activists. As an artist, Mit said that art should serve the truth, not a specific group of people.
Yingcheep, who works for iLaw, the organization currently running the petition for the repeal of the royal defamation law, said that in the year since the declaration of the 10-point demand for monarchy reform during a protest at Thammasat University, no one knows how they can safely talk about the monarchy, or whether they will receive justice if they are tried for royal defamation. He said that around 170 people have been charged with royal defamation in 2021, the highest number since the law came into use, which he said is an unusual use of the law.
For Yingcheep, the rate at which people are charged with royal defamation is related to the political climate at the time. He said that activists like Parit Chiwarak and Anon Nampa are imprisoned without being judged guilty, and therefore the law should be repealed so that no one else will be unfairly imprisoned on royal defamation charges.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 173 people have been charged with royal defamation for political expression and participation in pro-democracy protests since November 2020. Several protest leaders are facing multiple counts of the charge, including Parit Chiwarak, who is facing 23 counts; Anon Nampa, 14 counts; Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, 10 counts; Panupong Jadnok, 9 counts; and Benja Apan, 7 counts.
Participants in the protest can also sign the petition calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law
Over 50 plainclothes and unformed police officers were stationed around Tha Pae gate during the event. Officers also asked the organizers to take down banners from around the protest ground with messages relating to the monarchy, as well as to conclude the event before 19.50.
A small clash also occurred as the event was closing, after a police officer kicked over a box of fireworks being set off to close the event, injuring a nearby participant.
