Thailand: record sentence of 50 years in prison for a crime of lèse-majesté
A man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for lèse-majesté.
He is accused of having published content insulting to the monarchy on social networks.
A record sentence while the crime of lèse-majesté is increasingly contested by civil society.
Thai activist Mongkol Thirakot was sentenced to a record 50 years in prison by a Chiang Rai court on January 18, 2024. AP
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
With our correspondent in Bangkok
,
Carol Isoux
Mongkol Thirakot, 30, whose first name means "Dragon", was sentenced on appeal by a court in Chiang Rai province, in the north of the country, to 50 years in prison for comments posted online deemed insulting to the monarchy .
This is a record sentence in a country already considered to apply one of the most severe laws in the world concerning the crown of lèse majesté.
The heaviness of the verdict, which extends the initial sentence by eleven years, corresponds to the Thai expression well known in political circles: "slaughter the chicken and show it to the monkey", that is to say, make an example and remind all Thais that the monarchy remains untouchable.
The reform of the law on the crime of lèse majesté is at the heart of the demands of the new Thai generation, who demand more freedom of expression and accuse the power of using lèse majesté to stifle all political opposition.
During the last legislative elections last May, voters voted mainly in favor of a party which promised to change the law, but the conservatives, through a game of political alliances, prevented these deputies elected officials to join the government.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
Thailand