Urgent warning about little-known law for Aussies planning a trip to Thailand
Aussies are being warned about a law considered one of the strictest in the world that penalises both locals and foreigners from criticising the Thai Royal family.
American academic Dr Paul Chambers was jailed, had his passport seized and lost both his visa and his job at the Naresuan University after he was arrested over a webinar titled ' Thailand 's 2024 Military Reshuffles: What Do They Mean?'.
Dr Chambers was charged in April for breaking Thailand's lese majeste law which carries a jail sentence of between three and fifteen years.
The professor is barred from leaving the South East Asian country under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code despite not writing or publishing the webinar.
The lecturer was described at the university as a visiting fellow who was due to present the webinar in June, after it was first published by academics in Singapore.
'He's not allowed to leave the country, we are not sure exactly why,' his brother Kit Chambers told Reuters.
Dr Chambers is considered an expert in the relationship between the military and civilians in Thailand and other countries in South East Asia.
In 2024, a Thai man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on multiple sentences for derogatory comments he made about the Royal family.
The number of people accused of breaking the lese majeste laws is on the rise with at least 272 charged in recent years.
Thailand's constitution places the King in a position of 'revered worship' with the palace seen as sacrosanct - or too valuable to be interfered with.
Maha Vajiralongkorn has ruled as Thailand's King since 2016 and is the tenth monarch to lead the country from the Chakri dynasty.
He has become known for his luxurious lifestyle and $43million fortune as well as his 'hands-on' approach to ruling in harsh contrast to his father who ruled for 70 years.
King Vajiralongkorn, who married his fourth wife Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana in 2019, reportedly owns 38 aircraft, 300 luxury vehicles and 50 boats.
Aussies have been told to heed the travel warning before flying to Thailand.
'Insulting the monarchy, or defacing images of the monarchy – including on a bank note bearing the King's image – can lead to prison terms of up to 15 years,' a notice on smarttraveller.gov.au states.
Social media posts that criticise the Royal family can also land the estimated 800,000 Aussies who fly to Thailand each year in hot water.
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