American Academic Faces Rare Thai Royal Insult Charges

Thailand Is Clamping Down on Critics of the Monarchy

Paul Chambers, an eminent US scholar of Thailand, has been arrested on charges of criticizing the Thai monarchy. Chambers is one of the most high-profile targets of a clampdown on dissent against the world’s richest king.

"Thanakorn" points out that US academics who violate Section 112 must be punished according to Thai law. He believes that the US understands and will not pressure or interfere. Do not claim freedom of rights. He insists that the law is not a problem if it is not violated.

An American faces years in jail for allegedly insulting Thailand's monarchy

An American lecturer in Thailand has been arrested on charges of offending the country's monarchy. Paul Chambers, who teaches political science at Thailand's Naresuan University, was detained earlier this month before being charged. The U.S. State Department is now involved, as the teacher potentially faces years behind bars.Thailand's laws, which criminalize any criticism of Thailand's monarchy, are rarely applied against foreigners but often c…

Rights group urges Thailand to release US scholar detained for alleged insults against monarchy

Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Thai authorities on Tuesday to release US scholar Paul Chambers following his arrest on charges of lèse majesté and cybercrime. HRW holds that the use of royal insult laws in Thailand to prosecute primarily foreigners amounts to possible violations of human rights. Asia director at HRW Elaine Pearson said, “The baseless prosecution of Paul Chambers poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thail…

American academic arrested in Thailand accused of criticizing monarchy

Authorities arrested American lecturer Paul Chambers, who teaches at a university in Thailand, for criticizing its monarchy. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the United States was “alarmed” by Chambers’s arrest and called on Thai officials to “respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression.” The department is “closely monitoring” the situation and actively assisting the detained Ame…

U.S. ‘alarmed’ after American lecturer charged with insulting Thai monarchy

The State Department says Paul Chambers was arrested under Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws, which harshly punish any criticism of the royal family.