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BANGKOK: A Thai court on Monday (May 27) sentenced a radical musician who burned an image of the king and an opposition lawmaker who insulted the monarchy to jail, their lawyers said.
Another monarchy reform activist, who was accused of harassing the royal motorcade and charged with sedition before staging a partial hunger strike, was granted bail at a separate hearing, the Legal Aid group said.
The musician and lawmaker violated Thailand’s lese majeste law, one of the world’s toughest of its kind, which protects the powerful monarchy from criticism and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for each offense.
Chonthicha Jangrew, 31, a lawmaker from the Progressive Party, was sentenced to two years in prison for speaking during anti-government protests in 2021. She denied the charge and was granted bail pending an appeal, her lawyer, Marisa Pidsaya, told Reuters.
Another court sentenced 35-year-old musician Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan to four years in prison for burning an effigy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Chaiamorn, who was convicted of arson, lese majeste and computer crime, also denied the charge and said he set the effigy ablaze to vent his frustration over his colleagues being detained on charges of insulting the monarchy.
Chaiamorn has also been granted bail and plans to appeal, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a legal aid group.
The court has not yet issued a statement on the ruling. The royal family does not typically comment on the law.
More than 272 people have been charged with lèse majeste since 2020, including 17 in pretrial detention, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Legal Aid, which collects data and defends many of those charged.
Legal disputes
In a third ruling on Monday, the court allowed Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon, 22, to be released on bail from pretrial detention, Thai human rights lawyers said.
In February, she live-streamed on her Facebook account an altercation with police who stopped vehicles to clear the way for a motorcade carrying Princess Sirindhorn, the younger sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. She was subsequently arrested and charged with sedition and other offences. She denies the charges.
Earlier this month, she was taken to a hospital outside the prison due to her frail health, the Legal Aid group said.
A youth-led political movement that emerged in 2020 has broken traditional taboos, calling for reform of the monarchy and has criticized traffic blocking for the royal motorcade.
Two weeks ago, activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom Death in pretrial detention The charges included insulting a member of the royal family. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said she had also gone on a partial hunger strike.
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