Latest news with #TLHR
The Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Jailed Thai lawyer wins international rights award; first man from South-East Asian nation to win prestigious title
Arnon Nampa, 40, was named the Asia-Pacific recipient of this year's Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, becoming the first Thai national to receive the honour. -- Photo: The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (AFP): A Thai lawyer jailed for criticising the monarchy has won an international human rights prize in recognition of his efforts to promote freedom of expression and democratic reform. Arnon Nampa, 40, was named the Asia-Pacific recipient of this year's Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, becoming the first Thai national to receive the honour. He is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence following multiple convictions under Thailand's strict lese-majeste law, which criminalises criticism of the monarchy, as well as other offences. In a statement, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said Arnon was recognised for "his role in promoting and protecting human rights despite facing danger and serious risks to his own personal safety". The Front Line Defenders Award, presented annually by the Ireland-based organisation, highlights the work of activists around the world who operate under threat. In a letter read by a member of his family during the award ceremony in Dublin, Arnon called it "a profound honour" that gives him "strength for the road ahead". He described Thailand's political repression as a generational battle against the "old order" marked by suppression of dissent. Arnon rose to prominence during Thailand's 2020 youth-led pro-democracy protests, where he publicly called for reform of the monarchy and military-backed government. His taboo-breaking speeches and online posts have led to a series of convictions under lese majeste, or Section 112 of the Penal Code, which carries sentences up to 15 years in prison per offence. TLHR says his total jail term now amounts to 22 years, and he has been in detention since September 2023, with appeals against all convictions currently pending. In 2024 alone, he submitted at least 41 bail requests, all of which were denied. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Arnon's imprisonment and called for his release. - AFP
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Jailed Thai lawyer wins international rights prize
Arnon Nampa is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence following multiple convictions. (AFP pic) BANGKOK : A Thai lawyer jailed for criticising the monarchy has won an international human rights prize in recognition of his efforts to promote freedom of expression and democratic reform. Arnon Nampa, 40, was named the Asia-Pacific recipient of this year's Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, becoming the first Thai national to receive the honour. He is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence following multiple convictions under Thailand's strict lese-majeste law, which criminalises criticism of the monarchy, as well as other offences. In a statement, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said Arnon was recognised for 'his role in promoting and protecting human rights despite facing danger and serious risks to his own personal safety'. The Front Line Defenders Award, presented annually by the Ireland-based organisation, highlights the work of activists around the world who operate under threat. In a letter read by a member of his family during the award ceremony in Dublin, Arnon called it 'a profound honour' that gives him 'strength for the road ahead'. He described Thailand's political repression as a generational battle against the 'old order' marked by suppression of dissent. Arnon rose to prominence during Thailand's 2020 youth-led pro-democracy protests, where he publicly called for reform of the monarchy and military-backed government. His taboo-breaking speeches and online posts have led to a series of convictions under lese-majeste, or Section 112 of the Penal Code, which carries sentences up to 15 years in prison per offence. TLHR says his total jail term now amounts to 22 years, and he has been in detention since September 2023, with appeals against all convictions currently pending. In 2024 alone, he submitted at least 41 bail requests, all of which were denied. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Arnon's imprisonment and called for his release.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thailand revokes visa of US academic charged with royal insult
Thailand's immigration authorities revoked the visa Wednesday of a prominent American scholar detained a day earlier on royal defamation charges, his lawyer said. Paul Chambers, who has spent over a decade teaching Southeast Asia politics at a Thai university, had his bail request rejected Tuesday by a court in Phitsanulok province after reporting to police to answer a charge of lese-majeste. His case is a rare instance of a foreigner falling foul of strict laws which shield King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from any criticism and can lead to decades-long prison sentences. "The immigration police just came into the detention centre earlier this afternoon," said Wannaphat Jenroumjit, who is with the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and representing Chambers. The Thai military filed a complaint against Chambers earlier this year over an article linked to a think-tank website which focuses on Southeast Asia politics. "Urgent! Lawyers have been informed that immigration police have revoked the visa of Paul Chambers," TLHR posted on X. The organisation said it will appeal the visa revocation decision within 48 hours and continue efforts to secure Chambers' release. Wannaphat told AFP she had submitted a second bail request on Tuesday and was awaiting the court's decision. She said Chambers was "not confident but remains hopeful" in the Thai justice system. Chambers told AFP last week he felt "intimidated" by the situation, but was being supported by the US embassy and colleagues at his university. The US State Department said Tuesday it was "alarmed" by the arrest. Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, a researcher at Amnesty International who campaigns for the release of political prisoners, said the visa revocation was meant to "intimidate" Chambers. "They found his work threatening, so revoking his visa means he can no longer remain in Thailand and continue his work," he told AFP. "The visa revocation is meant to send a message to foreign journalists and academics working in Thailand, that speaking about the monarchy could lead to consequences." He added that the chances of Chambers being granted bail looked grim, given a "pattern" in which people charged under lese-majeste laws are rarely granted bail. International watchdogs have expressed concern over the use of the laws -- known as Article 112 -- against academics, activists and even students. One man in northern Thailand was jailed for at least 50 years for lese-majeste last year, while a woman got 43 years in 2021. In 2023, a man was jailed for two years for selling satirical calendars featuring rubber ducks that a court said defamed the king. tak-fox/lb
