Highlights: Thai justice orders opposition to abandon reform of lèse-majesté law. The main party in the Assembly attempted to overthrow the monarchy by publicly evoking the change in the law. Thailand's monarchy is protected by one of the toughest defamation laws in the world. Anyone found guilty of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir or regent faces between three and 15 years in prison on each count 'charge. The law is regularly interpreted to include criticism of any aspect of the monarchy, including content posted or shared on social media.

Thai justice ordered the main opposition party on January 31 to abandon reforms to the law punishing the crime of lèse majesté. The Constitutional Court considers that the main party…

Thai justice orders opposition to abandon reform of lèse-majesté law

Thai justice ordered the main opposition party on January 31 to abandon reforms to the law punishing the crime of lèse majesté. The Constitutional Court considers that the main party in the Assembly attempted to overthrow the monarchy by publicly evoking the change in the law on the crime of lèse majesté, thus opening the way to a possible dissolution of the party winning the legislative elections.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the leading figure of the Thai Move Forward party, at a press conference, January 31, 2024. AP - Sakchai Lalit

By: RFI Follow

The Kingdom's Constitutional Court ruled that the

Move Forward party,

the big winner in the legislative elections last May, attempted to "

separate the King from the Thai Nation

" and "

overthrow the democratic regime with the King at the head of the State

” by evoking a possible reform of law 112 of the Penal Code on the crime of lèse-majesté, reports RFI correspondent in Bangkok,

Carol Isoux

However, the project corresponds to an aspiration of Thai youth.

For the moment, this is a warning: the Court has not chosen to immediately dissolve the party or order a ban on its members from political life, but another jurisdiction could rely on this decision to do it. Such a decision would undoubtedly anger voters of the party that won the most seats in Parliament, and Thai youth who have demonstrated in the past that they are capable of taking to the streets to make themselves heard.

Read alsoMove Forward, the party that reflects the hope of Thai youth

This legislation, one of the most severe in the world in this area, provides for up to 15 years in prison for any criticism of King

Maha Vajiralongkorn

, the Queen or the heir to the Crown.

Thailand's monarchy is protected by one of the toughest defamation laws in the world, making any criticism of the king very risky inside the country. Under Section 112 of the Thai Penal Code, anyone found guilty of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir or regent faces between three and 15 years in prison on each count. 'charge. But the law is regularly interpreted to include criticism of any aspect of the monarchy, including content posted or shared on social media.

Also read: Thailand: record sentence of 43 years in prison for insulting the royal family

The use of Article 112 has increased significantly since the 2014 military coup. Self-described royalist civilian groups also monitor the internet and social media and report suspected violations. That number has skyrocketed since then, with at least 262 people accused or charged with breaking the law since mid-2020.

Thai justice orders opposition to abandon reform of lèse-majesté law

Thai justice orders opposition to abandon reform of lèse-majesté law

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