Thai Opposition Lawmaker Sentenced To 6 Years For Insulting Monarchy

 

A Thai politician who was accused of disrespecting the monarchy was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday, a severe blow to human rights.

Thai laws that forbid “insulting the monarchy” resulted in Rukchanok Srinok, a 29-year-old member of the opposition Move Forward Party, receiving a prison sentence, according to the advocacy group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Human Rights Watch denounced Rukchanok Srinok’s detention in a report titled “Thailand: Lawmaker Sentenced for ‘Insulting Monarchy’”. The Criminal Court of Thailand convicted her of both lese majeste and violating the Computer Crimes Act.

The allegations made against Srinok Rukchanok are a violation of human rights. As guaranteed by international human rights legislation, her right to freedom of expression is being violated by this.

“The prosecution of an opposition member of parliament for two tweets is not only an appalling violation of free expression, but sends a chilling message to other outspoken opposition party members to keep silent,” stated Elaine Pearson, the Asia Director of Human Rights Watch.

Due to two posts that Rukchanok Srinok posted on X, a platform that was once Twitter, in 2020, he was found guilty. In one post, she accused the government of trying to enhance the monarchy’s reputation by distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

Another user’s post had been written in a visually appealing manner. The court claimed that it showed the king “great malice.”

Thailand’s law includes a 15-year jail sentence for insulting the monarchy, but it also shields the king, queen, heir, and regent from criticism.