American Lecturer Arrested In Thailand For Being Considered Insulting King

UNSPLASH/MarkusLUS ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - An American academic was arrested in Thailand on Tuesday on charges of insulting the monarchy.

This is a rare legal process against a foreign national based on one of the strictest laws of insult to the king of the world.

Police said Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University, reported to the police station in northern province Phitsanulok after his arrest warrant was issued last week following a complaint filed by the army.

The Thai monarchy is protected by Article 112 of the country's Criminal Code, which states that anyone found guilty of defaming, insulting, or threatening the king, queen, heir to the throne, or regent will be sentenced to three to 15 years in prison.

"He acknowledged the two charges, including the violation of Article 112," said a Phitsanulok police officer.

Chambers was also charged with computer crime offenses.

Wannaphat Jenroumjit, Chambers's lawyer, said the allegations stemmed from a brief description for an online academic seminar last year where he was a speaker.

The short description was uploaded on the website of a research institute based outside Thailand, Wannaphat said.

"He denies all charges," said Wannaphat, a lawyer from Thailand's group of Human Rights Lawyers.

The group said Chambers was denied guarantees.

Supporters of the Thai kingdom consider the monarchy to be sacred.

Public discussion of the law for decades has become a taboo issue, with dozens of jailed people for insulting the crown.

Since student-led anti-government protests in 2020 sparked calls to remove the law, 279 people have been charged with insulting the king, according to data compiled by Thailand's Human Rights Lawyers group. While foreigners are rarely prosecuted.

Several prominent student leaders calling for the law to be abolished have been jailed.

When asked about Chambers, the US State Department said it was concerned about the arrest of a US citizen.

"We regularly urge Thai authorities, both personally and publicly, to protect freedom of expression in accordance with Thailand's international obligations," a spokesman said.