Chanin Khlaikhlung

In the first week of November 2010, Sqn Ldr Chanin Khlaikhlung became the first casualty of Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon warning that the military needed to weed out anti-monarchists in its ranks.

A Bangkok Post report states that the “Royal Thai Air Force has taken action against one of its officers who allegedly posted lese majeste messages on Facebook. Air force spokesman Monthon Satchukorn yesterday said Sqn Ldr Chanin Khlaikhlung, of the Aeronautical Engineering Directorate, had been suspended from duties and a panel appointed to inquire into his conduct. His immediate supervisor was assigned to file a lese majeste complaint against him with Don Muang police last Thursday. Sqn Ldr Chanin has been accused of posting inappropriate messages against the monarchy on Facebook several times. Two naval officers came across the messages and alerted the air force. AVM Monthon said the air force also reported the matter last week to the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.”

Chanin surrendered to police on about 17 November 2010 and said he would plead not guilty.

He was expected to appear in a military court (closed to the public) in February 2013, facing lese majeste and computer crimes charges related to 24 comments on his Facebook page.

Khaosod reported in November 2014 that the King “has rescinded the royal decorations of a Redshirt activist facing charges of insulting the royal family.”

The Office of Prime Minister has announced that Chanin “has been stripped of the Order of the White Elephant and the Order of the Crown of Thailand, two decorations he earned for his ‘extraordinary’ service as a flight technician in the military.” The reports continues:

According to the statement, the decorations were rescinded because Sqn.Ldr. Chanin “violated the disciplines of the armed forces with his serious, evil behaviour, and insulted, defamed, and displayed vengeful expression toward His Majesty the King.”

The military expelled Chanin from the Air Force on 26 May 2014, four days after the military coup.

Chanin is reported to be a staunch supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra and his political groups.

Chanin is said to have “regularly expressed support for the shadowy militants who launched gun and grenade attacks on anti-government protesters during their campaign against the administration led by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2013-2014.” This is since he was charged with lese majeste.

The report states that “Chanin has claimed on Facebook that he is now living in exile in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where Thaksin also lives in self-imposed exile…”.

Chanin states: “I am still proud of my actions and attempt to defend freedom and democracy,” Chanin wrote. “You may be a general, I may be a civilian, but you and I are no different in the land that has true freedom, and, ultimately, in the land of heaven or hell.”

Media reports:

Khaosod, 11 November 2014: “Lese Majeste Suspect Stripped of Royal Decorations”

Prachatai, 1 December 2012: “Updates on lèse majesté and computer crime cases”

Bangkok Post, 17 November 2010: “Air force officer surrenders to police”