This article was originally published on Prachatai.
Two Thai reporters, along with a pro-democracy activist, have been indicted as principals with regard to a 2023 incident where an activist sprayed graffiti onto the wall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. They have been granted provisional bail pending trial.
Nutthaphol Meksobhon, a Prachatai reporter, was arrested on 12 February 2024 for damaging a historic site and vandalizing a wall in a public place.
The arrest resulted from his covering the incident on 28 March 2023, when a 25-year-old activist sprayed onto the wall of the Temple an anarchist symbol and the number 112, with a strike through it. Freelance photographer Natthaphon Phanphongsanon, who covered the same incident, was also arrested. They were among several reporters at the scene.
Another pro-democracy activist Noppasin Treelayapiwat also faced the same charge since it was found that he was at the scene on 28 March 2023. Initially, all of them were charged as accomplices.
Meanwhile, the activist who sprayed the symbol onto the wall has already been sentenced to eight months. He was later granted provisional bail.
However, on Tuesday (21 October), the public prosecutor indicted the three as principals in damaging a historic site and vandalizing a public wall rather than as accomplices.
The Prachatai reporter asserted that on that day, he was simply carrying out his duties as a reporter, intending to report in line with professional ethics.
Meanwhile, photojournalist Natthaphon revealed that the incident cost him his job, saying that after he faced the charge, he was sacked by his former employer, Spacebar.
In Noppasin’s case, he learned that an arrest warrant had been issued for him after the two reporters were already arrested. He also went to support them and show the police that he did not flee. He was subsequently apprehended on 14 February 2024.
They have been granted provisional bail with no conditions. The two reporters have been granted bail with 35,000 baht for each, and 70,000 baht for Noppasin.
Under the Thai Criminal Code, a principal to a crime, defined as anyone who participates in the committing of an offense, faces the same penalty as the offender. Meanwhile, an accomplice, defined as anyone aiding or abetting the offender, faces two-thirds of the penalty in a case where the crime is successfully committed.
Performing the duty of a reporter is an exercise of the right to freedom to present news or express opinions in accordance with professional ethics. The practice is also protected by the Thai Constitution, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.