Thai Army defends lèse-majesté charges against American academic

The Star

29-04-2025

FILE - US political science lecturer Paul Chambers, left, of Thailand's Naresuan University, stands outside the police station in Phitsanulok, Thailand, where he was arrested on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, on charges of insulting the monarchy. - AP
BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has defended legal action taken against an American academic for alleged lèse-majesté, while the opposition People's Party (PP) criticised the move, claiming it has stalled trade negotiations with the United States.
RTA spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvari issued a statement on Monday (April 28) to clarify the lèse-majesté charges against Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University. Chambers surrendered to police on 8 April and was released on bail the following day with a surety of 300,000 baht (US$8998).
Maj Gen Winthai stated that he needed to address the issue after Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Area 3 representatives provided incomplete information during their appearance before the House Committee on Military Affairs on 24 April.
According to the statement, ISOC Area 3 filed a complaint under Article 112 of the Criminal Code at Muang Phitsanulok Police Station on 27 February. Winthai stressed that this article allows any member of the public to report lèse-majesté offences they have witnessed.
He added that the complaint was made after ISOC was alerted by members of the public who claimed Chambers had expressed personal opinions in a way that allegedly harmed the monarchy's reputation.
Winthai denied allegations from the PP that ISOC invoked Article 7 of the Internal Security Act, explaining that the law applies only to special security situations, such as the insurgency in Thailand's deep South.
Maj Gen Winthai also reprimanded PP Members of Parliament for their behaviour during the House committee session. He claimed ISOC representatives were humiliated with demeaning terms, including 'stupid', 'power-hungry', and 'lacking intelligence and English skills'.
The spokesman reaffirmed that although Dr Chambers is an American citizen, he must be held accountable under Thai law, as he lives and works in Thailand.
PP deputy leader Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn disputed Winthai's claim that ISOC acted merely as concerned citizens. He argued that the complaint was filed in an official capacity by ISOC Area 3 commander Lt Gen Kittipong Chamsuwan, making it a formal action by a state security agency.
Wiroj further claimed that ISOC abused its authority by using summary notes from a seminar—which Chambers did not author—as evidence. The notes were produced by the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, the event organiser.
Wiroj cited former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently stated that lawsuits involving American citizens had disrupted Thai–US trade negotiations, potentially exposing Thailand to punitive import tariffs. Although Thaksin did not name Chambers directly, many believe he was referring to the case.
Wiroj urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to acknowledge the impact of the Chambers case, accusing the civilian government of allowing continued military overreach.
PP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun echoed Wiroj's concerns, insisting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn must personally address the issue instead of relying on her father, Thaksin, to speak on her behalf.
She demanded that the prime minister explain how her government plans to resolve the Chambers matter to safeguard the trade talks.
In a separate statement, ISOC spokesman Maj Gen Thammanoon Maison insisted that the case against Dr Chambers was strictly a matter of domestic internal security and should not be connected to international trade relations. - The Nation/ANN