United Nations human rights experts voiced their concern regarding the application of Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws following the conviction and subsequent imprisonment of renowned poet Arnon Nampa.

Nampa, a pivotal figure and founding member of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), has spent his career providing free legal aid and representation in litigation to those in precarious situations, particularly in cases of a sensitive nature.

What is lèse-majesté?

Nampa’s legal troubles escalated on 26 September 2023, when he was convicted and sentenced to a four-year prison term under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, which penalises acts of defamation, insult, or threat against the monarch of Thailand.

His detention continued, and on January 17, 2024, an additional four-year sentence was imposed. These legal actions were in response to a speech he delivered at a peaceful pro-democracy rally, where he advocated for reform of the monarchy and critiqued the enforcement of Section 112 for its detrimental effects on freedom of expression.

UN experts criticised the punitive measures against Nampa as “completely disproportionate” and indicative of a broader, troubling trend aimed at suppressing human rights advocates and dissenting opinions. They remarked, “The use of lèse-majesté charges in Thailand has been a cause of alarm for years, and Special Procedures mandate holders have sent several communications to the Government of Thailand expressing concerns in this regard.”

Read: Yang Hengjun: Australian writer sentenced to death in China

Highlighting the broader implications, the experts argued, “Harsh sentences for those defending human rights and exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are incompatible with Thailand’s international legal obligations. They have a chilling effect on human rights defenders, civil society and fundamental rights and freedoms.”

On top of this, Nampa faces potential disbarment by the Lawyers Council of Thailand for his calls for monarchy reform in a speech on 3 August 2020. The UN’s statement stressed the importance of safeguarding such expressions in a democratic society, urging Thai authorities to reverse Nampa’s conviction and dismiss all pending charges. They advocated for the protection of lawyers’ rights to free expression, particularly in the context of their professional activities.

Reiterating a longstanding appeal, the UN experts called for the abolition of the lèse-majesté law, adjustment of the Criminal Code to align with international human rights standards, and the cessation of prosecutions and release of individuals jailed for exercising their freedom of expression.

International community calls for release of Arnon Nampa

Nampa, who also penned a poetry collection titled Mute and Blind, at the End of the Line (translated), about the 2010 red shirts massacre—a work that was nominated for a S.E.A. Write Award in 2013—has received international support.

PEN America has demanded his unconditional release and the repeal of the lèse-majesté laws, reflecting a global outcry against his imprisonment and the broader implications for freedom of expression in Thailand.