A 19-year-old pro-democracy activist in Bangkok was sentenced on Thursday to one year in jail for wearing a crop top in 2020—or rather, for poking fun at Thailand’s eminently mockworthy yet notoriously unmockable King Maha Vajiralongkorn, in part by wearing a crop top. The teenager, identified by the pseudonym Sainam, is one of at least 253 people, including minors as young as 15, who have been charged in the last three years with violating Section 112 of the country’s criminal code, which punishes criticisms of the monarchy with up to 15 years behind bars and which, rights groups say, has been systematically used to quell political dissent. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] “Sainam’s case,” Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate—an advocacy associate at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which tracks and assists those facing political persecution—tells TIME, “is yet another piece of evidence that points towards the shrinking of civic space in Thailand.” The latest sentencing also comes as hopes for an end to the sweeping royal defamation prosecutions are quickly fading. Thailand’s royal family has faced increasing public criticism in recent years, most notably in the form of pro-democracy protests that rocked the country in 2020 and 2021.
Thai Teen Jailed For Mocking The King As Prospects Of Royal Defamation Reform Dim
Koh Ewe, Time: World
Fri, 07/21/2023 - 3:30am
Topics: king maha vajiralongkorn ldquo;sainam’s chaimaneekarakate&mdash thai lawyers human rights thailand.&rdquo are thai protesters risking up years prison criticize monarchy building pita limjaroenrat varuth pongsapipatt&mdash sopa images/lightrocket/getty imagesprotesters jan pheu thai ldquo;pita’s mark s japan&rsquo kansai gaidai university ldquo;people napon jatusripitak singapore&rsquo iseas-yusof ishak institute month after election we still don&rsquo who will lead country are all ways it could go ldquo;move ldquo;thailand’s of section bangkok thailand&rsquo sainam section thai time read move pita pita&rsquo prime minister constitutional court cogan teen reform royal defamation political party forward’s lèse-majesté top conservative week support complaint wearing establishment pro-democracy military-backed parliamentary risks wednesday parliament dissent crop violating rule part defeat public faced dissolution forces stance associate bid evidence attempt debate nomination tells amending
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