May 30, 2021
This Week in Human Rights News
Teen activist indicted on lèse majesté charge in Thailand
Sources: Prachathai, Human Rights Watch, Thai PBS World, Article 19
In Thailand, activist Thanakorn “Petch” has become the first person under the age of 18 to be indicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code (Thailand’s lèse-majesté law) after being charged for a speech given at a protest in December 2020.
On Monday, Thanakorn went to the Central Juvenile and Family Court and was informed that the public prosecutor had already filed a case against him on 9 April 2021, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
He is facing charges for a speech given at the 6 December 2020 protest at Wong Wian Yai, in which he called for a national reform, saying that Thailand is not a democracy but an absolute monarchy and talked about the monarchy’s role in military coups.
He was 17 at the time of the protest.
The public prosecutor stated that the speech was not factual and was an insult to the King.
Thailand's lèse majesté law is one of the strictest in the world, and criminalises defamation, insults, and threats to members of the monarchy.
Thanakorn currently faces 5 charges for his involvement in pro-democracy protests, which include 2 Section 112 charges, two sedition charges under Section 116, and 2 charges for violation of the Emergency Decree.
According to TLHR, he is the first minor to be indicted under Section 112 since the law started to be used against pro-democracy activists in November 2020.
Thanakorn denies the charges, but if found guilty, he faces 3 to 15 years in prison.
With his next hearing set for June 11, Thanakorn has expressed concerns, saying that there have been injustices in previous cases against protesters, and that the history of prosecutions of political protesters makes fighting for democracy in Thailand difficult.
Other activists, Chukiat Sangwong and Wanwalee Thammasattaya also face charges for their involvement in the same protest. Chukiat has been in prison since March 23 awaiting trial, while Wanwalee was granted bail on May 7.
This is not, however, the first time a minor has been charged with committing an act of lèse majesté. In 2017, six teenagers, including a 14-year-old boy, were convicted for burning royal portraits.
In total, at least 92 people are facing charges under Section 112 for expressing their political opinions, at least 7 of whom are minors.