Thailand
Amnesty International condemns “shocking” 87-year sentence for lèse majesté offences

Amnesty International has roundly denounced Thailand’s sentencing of a 65 year old woman to 87 years’ imprisonment for the offence of lèse majesté and violation of the Computer Crimes Act. Nation Thailand reports that the sentencing has also been condemned by Human Rights Watch, who described it as, “a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy won’t be tolerated but that they will also be severely punished”.
Former civil servant Anchan Preelert was sentenced by the Bangkok criminal court yesterday, with the prison term halved as a result of her guilty plea. She is accused of sharing audio clips that are considered insulting to Thailand’s Monarchy. The country’s lèse majesté law is widely seen as one of the harshest in the world, but yesterday’s ruling still constitutes a new record.
Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific regional director, Yamini Mishra says it illustrates the government’s determination to shut down opposition voices and goes against international human rights law.
“The fast-rising number of individuals facing charges and being detained under the lèse majesté law demonstrates the Thai authorities’ relentless drive to silence dissent. Today’s extreme sentence is a case in point and shows why this law is inconsistent with international human rights law. Defamation should never incur a criminal conviction in the first place, let alone an extremely long jail sentence like today’s.”
Amnesty International says that, by signing up to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Thailand has given an undertaking to protect freedom of expression. The UN Human Rights Committee, which is responsible for interpreting the ICCPR, has decried yesterday’s sentencing, saying ““imprisonment is never an appropriate penalty” for lèse majesté offences.
Since anti-government protests kicked off in July 2020, over 220 people, including minors, have been charged for their alleged role in peaceful protests. Dozens have been charged with sedition or lèse majesté offences. Amnesty International says Thailand must amend legislation that goes against the right to freedom of expression.
“The Thai authorities must halt their crackdown on peaceful dissent. The government must repeal or significantly revise legislation which gags freedom of expression both on- and offline, such as the lèse majesté offence and the Computer Crime Act used in today’s verdict.”
Anchan was arrested in January 2015 and held in a military camp for 5 days. She was then transferred to prison, where she was repeatedly denied bail until November 2018. She was charged with 29 offences under the Computer Crimes Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse majesté law. Her sentence is a result of consecutive 3-year sentences for each of the offences.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Thailand
Thailand News Today | Vaccines have arrived, roll out from Monday | Feb 24

In today’s Thailand News Today, the government is at least now talking about lifting the mandatory quarantine, the first Covid vaccines will start in Thailand next Monday, and protesters change gears and go after alleged corruption in the Thai police force. We’ve also got a special report about the latest in the Thai Airways saga, all on our YouTube Channel. Let’s get started….
The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha says the government would now consider waiving the mandatory 14 day quarantine for tourists with proof of a Covid-19 vaccination. For months now, the government has stuck to its stance that vaccinated foreign arrivals would still need to be quarantined, given that it’s too early to say if vaccines prevent transmission. But with industry leaders warning that the economy is on the brink of collapse, the only hope appears to be reviving the tourism sector, a major economic contributor prior to Covid-19.
Even the Thai central bank says the uncertainty facing the tourism sector is a major threat to medium term economic growth. The bank Governor says it would be very difficult for the economy to recover to pre-pandemic levels without the return of international tourism.
Tourism officials have been pushing for Thailand to introduce a vaccine passport policy that would allow tourists to return from countries where mass vaccination programs are now underway.
Meanwhile, Thailand took delivery of its first doses of Covid-19 vaccine today, with the arrival of doses of the Chinese Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. A Thai Airways International plane carrying the vaccine from Beijing landed at the airport at 10.05 this morning.
The shipment included 2 million doses, valued around 1.2 billion baht, the government ordered from Sinovac Life Sciences of China. Those 200,000 doses will be stored and checked in a warehouse until Friday.
The national inoculation program is expected to get underway next week, with frontline medical workers and other vulnerable groups first in the queue.
The AstraZeneca vaccine will also be manufactured locally by Siam Bioscience, with production expected to begin in June. The government says vaccines from other manufacturers may also be registered for use in the Kingdom, with private hospitals allowed to administer them. The PM says a number of other manufacturers have expressed interest in having their vaccines approved for use in the Kingdom.
He said… “Many companies have shown interest to register but their documents are not completed yet. It is good that we will have more vaccines than the 65 million doses planned by the government now.”
The CCSA says 4 of Thailand’s major tourism destinations are to be prioritised in the distribution of vaccines. They are Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. In addition, a further 9 provinces with significant infection numbers are being prioritised in the rollout of the first vaccine doses.
70,000 doses will go to the hard-hit “highest control” area of Samut Sakhon, where Thailand’s second outbreak cluster was first detected on December 20 last year. 8,000 doses are being set aside for medical officials in the central province, along with 6,000 for frontline healthcare workers, 46,000 doses for seriously ill patients, and 10,000 doses for migrant workers and local residents.
Another 105,000 doses will be distributed to similar groups in Bangkok, in the central provinces of Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkram and Samut Prakan, and in the western province of Ratchaburi and the Mae Sot district of Tak.
14,700 doses will be sent to 4 major tourist destinations, with 4,700 going to the eastern province of Chon Buri, 4,000 to Phuket, 3,500 to the northern province of Chiang Mai, and 2,500 going to the island of Samui in the Surat Thani province.
The pro-democracy group, Ratsadon, held a rally in Bangkok late yesterday, this time with their sights set on Thailand’s police force and the alleged corrupt practices involved in the promotion system. The system, where officers have to pay bribes to senior figures, allegedly including senior politicians, was highlighted in a debate in parliament last week.
Activists met at the Ratchaprasong intersection in the capital around 5pm and stayed there for an hour. But many of the speakers were new faces, with some of the more prominent leaders notably absent, currently languishing in police custody. Those who addressed the crowd called on “honest” police officers to join them in the fight for justice, as they slammed the widespread nepotism and corruption that is allegedly rife in the Thai police force.
Protesters then marched to the nearby headquarters of the Royal Thai Police and sat on the street outside while speeches continued. At one point, an activist read out a letter which the group says was written by a police officer and addressed to his colleagues. In it, the officer calls on his colleagues to decide if they are serving the people or those in power, and asks them if they think they’ve been fairly treated by their bosses or used for political purposes.
Thai Vietjet has announced the flight resumption of its domestic cross-regional service between Phuket and Chiang Rai, in response to the increasing travel demand after the government began relaxing travel measures around the country. The airline will resume the service for four round-trip flights a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, starting from this Friday.
The airline also announced the resumption of other domestic cross-regional services including the flight between Hat Yai – Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai – Nakhon Si Thammarat from 19 March 2021 onwards.
The airline has launched a special promotion called “Welcome Back to the Sky”, offering special fares from just 99 (not including taxes, fees, surcharges, and add-ons) for Thai Vietjet’s flights between Phuket – Chiang Rai and any flights to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Other domestic carriers are also starting to ramp up the resumption of flights. This weekend, being a long weekend, has seen increased bookings for the sector.
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Phuket
Phuket police officer charged with attempted murder for shooting and critically injuring a noodle vendor

The drunk, off-duty police officer in Phuket who has caught on camera shooting and beating a noodle vendor on Bangla Road is now facing attempted murder charges as well as charges of carrying a firearm in public without a necessary reason and firing a weapon in a public area. The commander of the Phuket police station said he ordered investigators to prosecute the officer Pornthep Channarong with every criminal charge that can be applied.
The officer had gotten into an altercation just before dawn yesterday and shot a young vendor who was walking by. Surveillance camera footage show the 25 year old suddenly falling to the ground after being shot. The officer walks up and shoots the vendor at a close range, but it appears the second shot did not hit the vendor. The officer also slapped the vendor in the face, picked him up and shoved him over, and then kicked him as he lay on the ground.
The vendor has a 4 year old daughter and 3 month old son. His wife says normally he works as a motorbike driver, but he was helping his mother selling noodles. He was shot while he was walking back from collecting a noodle bowl, she says. The vendor is in critical condition and being cared for at Vachira Phuket Hospital’s intensive care unit. He’s in need of Type B blood.
“For his condition, the doctor told me that the bullet went through his lung. He lost a lot of blood. We need a lot of Type B blood for him.”
A disciplinary investigation into the incident was launched by police and Pornthep was officially dismissed from the Royal Thai Police force. Region 8 Police Commander Kitrat Panpetch says the incident does not reflect the police force in Phuket.
“The incident was caused by an officer who did something wrong that our organisation does not want. We are a big organisation with more than 200,000 officers under our control. Our officers are not all bad like this.”
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pornsak Nuannu says he has reminded the police chiefs across the island to discuss reasons for carrying firearms in public.
“Carrying firearms is to prevent any type of crime that may happen, not to commit a crime by themselves like this incident. If I see any police doing such a thing, I will decisively proceed in terms of both officer discipline and criminal charges.”
SOURCE: Phuket News
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is also set to arrive in Thailand today

While news has been focused on today’s arrival of China’s Sinovac vaccine, it’s now being reported that 117,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will also arrive in Thailand today. The vaccines will be distributed to 13 provinces, including 9 that are considered the “highest risk” of Covid-19 infection as well as 4 popular tourist destinations that are of “economic significance” such as Phuket and Chiang Mai.
The delivery of the Sinovac vaccine was widely publicised in Thailand. The public health minister posted photos of the packages throughout the delivery process. The government even held a special event called “Covid vaccines, restoring the Thai smile” where they formally accepted the first delivery of Covid-19 vaccines in Thailand. The Bangkok Post says officials did not specify how many Sinovac doses were shipped, but in earlier reports, the government said they planned for 200,000 doses in the first round.
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will be injected with the AstraZeneca vaccine rather than the Sinovac vaccine due to his age. A doctor recently warned that the Sinovac vaccine’s efficacy and safety has not been tested in those over 60. Prayut says the 200,000 doses from Sinovac will be given to priority groups within the next 3 days. In previous reports, people over 60 years old in high risk areas were included in the first phase of injections.
Prayut will be the first in the country to get injected with the Covid-19 vaccine, according to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
“It’s important that Gen Prayut takes the first Covid-19 vaccine shot because he is the country’s leader. There will naturally be a risk assessment process by the Department of Disease Control, which is an internationally accepted standard procedure.”
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Pedro
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 1:45 pm
If you look on Facebook where this story has been shared hundreds of times, 99.9% of comments are critical or insulting of Thailand, the Thai Government and the Monarchy over this sentencing. Let’s see if the PM really does care about the people and the reputation of the country, but will not hold my breath. I hope that HM The King shows his concern and pardons this lady and all the others being sentenced in his name.
Jean-Pierre
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Pedro, I think that the PM cares only about the internal reputation of the country … i.e. among other influential and wealthy Thais.
It is a bit like in TheTaiger’s article and video about the “party with no guests showing up” : the design of their concept is turned upside down, and they work like an echo in a cathedral, inside to inside.
World observer, no party
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 5:46 am
I would add. You give too much credit to the international western power. Thailand is asia with more than 1 billion Chinese. Today, western power is not so strong. As long as China doesn’t say a word, everything is ok. You point of view make you think Western word are blessed.
Pedro
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 1:53 pm
The whole world is condemning Thailand, which is so sad for such a wonderful country with great people, but who appear to be led by tyrants. Come on PM, prove the world wrong and show some leadership in this by stopping the use of this law.
harry1
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 2:11 pm
hard to believe a 63 year old woman gets life imprisonment for sharing a face book posting and made no comment, yet a billionaire who killed a cop has been exonerated so far and hasnt face justice
Slugger
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Get it right. They just havent been able to get him.
As for this, if she knew the law, she asked for it.
London Al
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 4:40 pm
That doesn’t make it right
Pedro
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:08 pm
Slugger, I am wondering if you are actually related to the PM because you steadfastly defend the Government, even when its actions are indefensible ))). I work in Law Enforcement world-wide so I am all for people adhering to the law, but in return, the law and punishment has got to be fair for the citizens. After all, it is their country too. Section 112 is draconian. It belongs to a different era and has no place in the 21st Century, and whilst I respect the Monarchy, this kind of law only serves to weaken it, not make it stronger. In other countries, Monarchies are strong because they are not enforced through this kind of law. Thailand could learn a lot from other countries on this one.
Jean-Pierre
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:34 pm
Slugger, like says B.T. below about “Boss”, they are not trying hard…
Now, saying “As for this, if she knew the law, she asked for it.” for some one jailed 87 years for a rather mild “lèse majesté” is an incredible lack of empathy for saying the least.
Yes, a sanction would have been “legal”, community service, a fine, etc, but 87 years for facebook stuff and not even an assassination attempt ? Your comment is disgraceful.
Issan John
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Sorry, Jean-Pierre, but under the law a sanction would NOT have been “legal” and wasn’t an option.
The minimum sentence on each offence is three years, so she was given the minimum sentence under the law.
She was charged with 29 different offences because she quoted / repeated different parts of a YouTube video 29 times on Facebook, resulting in a total sentence of 43 and a half years (29 x 3 years, halved because she pled guilty).
Meanwhile the original YouTube vlogger she quoted was charged with one offence, under the Computer Crimes Act (not S 112) and given a five year sentence, halved to two and a half years as he pled guilty, and he’s already been released.
There’s no room for “empathy” under the law as S 112 stands, nor does the PM have any constitutional right to unilaterally suspend the law (although obviously he could start the process).
I’m not defending the law in any way and clearly it’s being applied inconsistently and being abused, but nevertheless it is the law and its up to the Thai government to change it and so far no Thai government, elected or self- appointed, has shown any interest in doing so.
Maybe this will spark that interest.
Jean-Pierre
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 11:09 pm
Thanks Issan John for the detailed explanations.
This system of adding the jail times rather than taking the largest one is indeed alien to my culture, and I find this simply barbaric.
Well… I have then even more respect for the Thais who dare trying something different/new, it is like lying on a track hoping that the train can slam the emergency brakes …
Patrick
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 1:46 pm
Only a certain kind of people can respond so cold blooded and understanding while ignoring the obvious idiocy of the combination of law, penalties, the criminal act and this specific sentence.
B.T.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 4:49 pm
@Slugger :get it right>They just don’t want to get him.
gosport
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:49 pm
She got what she wanted. Congrats
Issan John
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Quite possibly, since once she pled guilty the court had no option.
Fakenews
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8:23 pm
I thought the sentence was reduced to 43 years
Ian
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8:29 pm
This sentance as yet again shown the world what a corrupt out of touch with its people it is ,this law is barbaric and should live in the past this is 2021 for God sake not 0021 thailand you ate so losongvthe people that love you each day that goes by so so sad
Stardust
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10:46 pm
Slugger and Issan john are the the criminal gangsters who should be in the jail. Just read these rubbish this foolish 2 rubbish are writing. This mafia parasites wanna Thai people as a slave for their own benefits and corruptions. Shame on these parasites!
Stardust
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 11:20 pm
Slugger and Issan John are really big loosers because they not understand the truth will always win and thats a universal law!
Issan John
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:28 am
While you may not like it, what I’m saying is “the truth”, Stardust.
Gordon J.
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 12:53 am
Under Prayut and his ilk, Thailand is a country we will no longer visit.
That makes me very sad as my wife and I have traveled to the country more than 30 times over the last 20 years. We won’t be back.
There are too many other countries that do not perpetrate enormous human rights violations to ever want to spend our money in Thailand again. We’re already looking at a six-month trip to Spain next year once the Covid hysteria has ended, instead of the 6-9 months we had planned on spending in Thailand.
Spain is a country with people just as lovely as the Thais, with loads of sea, sand and sun and where human rights, for the most part, are not massively violated.
Thailand used to be a wonderful country but, with Prayut, the permanent destruction of what always made Thailand an amazing place to visit is complete.
Sad to say we will never set foot in the country again.
Cultural Observer
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 5:53 am
The Lese Majeste law is simply a way to suppress and control the population and make people subservient to the oligarchy (the one percent) that controls the country. It is simply a tool to maintain the quasi-feudal nature of Thai society.
maxcorrigan
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:14 am
I have posted this before, the King and his father before him have both stated they do not want this law used, it’s the government ignoring this request for their own purpose of controlling dissent against them, pathetic!
Andr
Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 3:02 am
Maybe the german should step up and say that he want the law removed then? If h don’t it is just a play for the gallery.
Stardust
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 8:09 am
Low entities like slugger and Issan John are scared like hell of the truth and want to keep people as slaves. But it shows very well who are the criminals!
Issan John
Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:43 am
Stardust, instead of talking utter nonsense why not show anything I’ve said which isn’t not only “the truth” but the complete truth with no interpretation and without “economy”.
I’m not defending S 112 in any way, far from it, simply explaining why the court sentence was as it was and why the court had no option since that was the minimum sentence they could impose under the law – adding some details to the background to the offence which some evidently found useful and informative.
Maybe you could also explain how anything I’ve said could possibly be interpreted as supporting S 112 in any way and that I “want to keep people as slaves” when the polar opposite is all too obviously the case …..
….. or maybe not.
Ian
Friday, January 22, 2021 at 2:37 am
Issan john and his few followers also disrespect thier birth country on a daily basis he deserves all he gets shame on you and so sad for the lovely issan that homes you but maybe in a year your visa is declined then you come back to the uk tail between your legs your pittance of wealth left in Thailand but hey the British will take care of you give you a old people’s home and benefits even after all the shit you say against them ,England has many faults but it us like Europe and America the land of the free and free speech