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One in every of Thailand‘s most distinguished pro-democracy activists was handed one other two years and eight months in jail for criticising the monarchy throughout a Harry Potter-themed protest.
Arnon Nampa, the 40-year-old lawyer and poet, was discovered responsible on Thursday of defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn in a speech throughout a Bangkok protest rally in August 2020 beneath the controversial lese-majeste legislation.
He was among the many first individuals to publically demand reform of the Thai monarchy as a part of the pro-democracy motion in 2020, which noticed 1000’s of younger residents pouring onto the streets in protest.
This was Arnon Nampa’s sixth lese-majeste conviction, bringing his cumulative jail sentence to nearly 18 years and 11 months. He faces a complete of 14 instances beneath the lese-majeste legislation which protects the monarchy from criticism and carries a most jail sentence of 15 years.
Critics have accused the federal government of imposing the controversial legislation to throttle dissent for the reason that Thai navy took energy in a 2014 coup.
Prosecutors on Thursday argued that Arnon Nampa, as the top of the Ratsadon group, had posted a Fb message calling on anti-government protesters to collect at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument for a protest named: “Harry Potter VS You Know Who or He Who Should Not Be Named”, The Nation reported.
Shortly after the protest, the place Arnon Nampa was seen donning a cloak to appear to be Harry Potter, a authorities official filed a police criticism accusing him of slandering the monarchy.
Arnon Nampa thanked his attorneys and members of the general public who had come to the court docket to point out their help earlier than he was escorted away by corrections division officers.
PEN America on Thursday referred to as for Arnon Nampa’s instant launch and an finish to the lese-majeste legislation. “Nampa’s speeches, letters, and poems have impressed numerous different Thai residents to examine a extra simply and equitable society, making his imprisonment a broader assault on the best to free expression for all individuals in Thailand,” the group stated in a press release.
“Worldwide companions of Thailand should strain the Thai authorities to uphold its obligations beneath worldwide human rights legislation, together with the safety of free expression.”
Arnon Nampa was awarded the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by a South Korean basis for his pro-democracy work in 2021.
Throughout his first sentencing in September final 12 months, he stated that the “lack of private freedom is a sacrifice I’m prepared to make” that can be price it in years to return.
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The Unbiased
#Poet #handed #years #jail #criticising #Thai #monarchy #dressed #Harry #Potter
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar , 2024-12-20 12:49:00