This article was originally published on Prachatai.
Abdulafir Seng, an activist and volunteer reporter for the Deep South news outlet Wartani, has been sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison on sedition and other charges.
Wartani reported that, yesterday (4 March), the Pattani Provincial Court found Abdulafir guilty of sedition, violation of the Computer Crimes Act, and using a radio communication without permission.
He was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison. The Court reduced his sentence to 2 years and 4 months on the grounds that he is a young person and because he cooperated during the investigation. He was later granted bail pending appeal.
Abdulafir was previously held in military detention for 7 days in February 2025. It was unclear if he was formally charged when police and military officers detained him and took him to Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp in Pattani’s Nong Chik District. Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 claimed they brought him in to obtain some information about the Computer Crimes Act, and later that he had posted false information on social media about a clash between officers and insurgents, which incited conflict and hatred against state officials.
He was released after the expiry of the 7-day detention period allowed under Martial Law in force in the Deep South, and was immediately re-arrested by police officers and charged with sedition and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. He was later granted bail.