This article was originally published on Prachatai.
Four activists have been found guilty of royal defamation and sentenced to prison over speeches given at a protest in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters on 29 November 2020.
The Criminal Court on Friday found Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Anon Nampa, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, and Promsorn Veerathamjaree guilty of royal defamation for speeches about the transfer of army units to the direct command of the crown and the transfer of crown property to the King’s personal assets.
They were sentenced to 4 years in prison, but reduced their sentence to 2 years and 8 months because they gave useful testimony. The Court also prohibited reports on proceedings in the case.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the Court ruled that speeches given by Anon, Somyot, Pimsiri, and Promsorn damage the public’s faith in the monarchy and were defamatory because they compared the King to dictators and accused him of politically picking sides.
Meanwhile, the Court dismissed the royal defamation charge against Natthathida Meewangpla because her speech was about the 2010 crackdown on the Red Shirt protests and her experience in military detention during the 2014 coup.
A medical volunteer during the Red Shirt protests, Natthathida was a key witness during the inquest into the death of 6 people killed inside Wat Prathum Wanaram, which was designated a ‘sanctuary’ during the crackdown.
All five were also found guilty of violating regulations under the Emergency Decree in place at the time and of using a sound amplifier without permission. They were given a fine of 10,200 baht each.
The Court also dismissed all charges against actress Intira Charoenpura, who was charged with sedition and organizing an assembly without notifying the authorities. Intira was among the protest leaders but did not speak during the protest. A royal defamation charge against her was previously dismissed by the public prosecutor.
Pimsiri, Somyot, and Promsorn have been granted bail pending appeal on a cash security of 150,000 baht for Pimsiri and Promsorn and 200,000 baht for Somyot.
Anon remains detained pending appeal on 11 counts of royal defamation, all filed against him over his role in the 2020-2021 pro-democracy movement and his social media activity. He has been imprisoned since 26 September 2023 and is now facing over 31 years in prison.
TLHR noted that the courtroom was full of observers. Court officials had to bring more chairs, and some had to stand throughout the trial. Diplomats, politicians, academics, and representatives of human rights organizations were also in attendant.
What happened on 29 November 2020?
Also known as the King’s Close Bodyguard, the 11th Infantry Regiment was transferred along with the 1st Infantry Regiment, another king’s guard regiment, to the direct control of King Vajiralongkorn in October 2019. Both regiments were previously under the command of the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Defence.
Gathering on the street in front of the headquarters, protesters took turns giving speeches. The organizers also issued a statement questioning the transfer of army units to the King’s command, noting that it “not only severely undermines democracy but also destabilizes the stability and righteousness of the royal institution.”
The statement also said that the king’s command of army units is an interference in the civilian government’s work and in the people’s sovereign power, and called for the two regiments to be transferred back to their original chain of command and for the 2019 royal decree transferring the two Infantry Regiments to the Royal Security Command to be revoked.
One of the demands made in the 10-point manifesto declared by the student activist group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration at a protest on 10 August was for the Royal Offices to be abolished and for units with a clear duty, such as the Royal Security Command, to be transferred and placed under other agencies.
Other cases
Separately, on Thursday the Appeal Court upheld a verdict sentencing a 28-year-old from Mukdahan to 1 year and 6 months in prison.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported that Singto (pseudonym) was arrested on 7 December 2022 on a warrant issued by the Nontaburi Provincial Court.
The Appeal Court ruled that his comment was damaging towards the monarchy, and that his sentence should not be reduced or suspended because he has an undergraduate degree and should be mature enough to know better.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old Wuthipat (surname withheld) had his royal defamation and Computer Crimes Act convictions upheld by the Supreme Court. He commented about the death of King Rama VIII in the “Royalist Marketplace” Facebook group, known for its discussions of the monarchy, with about 100,000 group members at the time of the incident, though it was deleted 10 minutes after posting.