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Thailand appeals court upholds royal defamation prison sentence for progressive lawmaker
The ruling highlights ongoing use of Thailand's lese majeste law, with over 280 charged since 2020, mainly targeting activists and critics of royal privileges.
On Tuesday, an appeals court in Thailand upheld a two-year prison sentence for Chonthicha Jangrew, lawmaker, for defaming the monarchy in a second recent legal setback.
At a 2021 rally, Chonthicha alleged the then-government led by Prayuth Chan-o-cha changed a law to boost King Maha Vajiralongkorn's power; Article 112 allows up to 15 years for royal insults.
The court in Bangkok granted Chonthicha bail set at 150,000 baht ; she won a seat with the Move Forward Party after the 2023 polls and was a youth pro-democracy activist.
Chonthicha said she will appeal to the Supreme Court, while Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reports more than 280 people, many student activists, have been charged since early 2020.
Observers say the ruling underscores that Thailand's state machinery remains deeply conservative despite the People's Party's standing and student-led pro-democracy demonstrations seeking lese majeste law changes.