Sondhi Limthongkul is charged with lèse majesté. This is somewhat ironic as he has made numerous complaints of lèse majesté against others; indeed his whole People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement was based on such accusations and disloyalty to the monarchy against others.
Often referred to in the Thai media as a “media tycoon” and a “media firebrand,” this view relates to Sondhi’s recent role as one of the most high profile leaders of the PAD, a right-wing and rabidly royalist movement. PAD played a role in bringing down the Thaksin Shinawatra government in the lead-up to the 2006 military coup. It also mobilized against the governments led by Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, which PAD considered “proxy governments” for Thaksin. PAD eventually sought to bring down Somchai’s government following its occupation of Bangkok’s two airports and only left the airports following the Constitutional Court’s dissolution of the People’s Power Party, meaning that Somchai’s government collapsed.
PAD followers wear yellow shirts to show their loyalty to the king and Sondhi declared PAD’s fight as a fight to preserve the monarchy. It is ironic, but shows the political use of lèse majesté, that Sondhi is said to have faced up to 32 accusations of lèse majesté.
On 22 January 2009, his police dossier was reportedly completed relating to a case where Sondhi is accused of lèse majesté after he referred to a speech given by Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul (alias Da Torpedo) when he was criticizing her. Sondhi was released on bail of 300,000 baht pending further decisions by the prosecutors.
On 17 April 2009, the media reported an assassination attempt on Sondhi. Many motives have been suggested (seeThe Times, 17 April 2009, “Thailand’s Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul survives assassination attempt” and The Nation, 17 April 2009, “Sondhi in safe condition now: doctor”).
After failing to appear for scheduled meetings with prosecutors several times, the police were asked to arrest Sondhi and bring him in for a meeting. Sondhi Limthongkul’s lese majeste case, and had requested that police bring him in. Another report states that the Office of the Attorney-General adjourned its decision on whether to proceed with a lèse-majesté charge against Sondhi for another one month. The postponement came after the lawyer of the defendant submitted a petition requesting for a special committee to interrogate additional witnesses.
In early July 2010, Sondhi was indicted by the public prosecutor for lese majeste. The prosecution yesterday brought Sondhi before the Criminal Court after the Office of the Attorney-General recommended that he be indicted for lese majeste. It is not known when he is expected to be before the courts. He was released on bail. Later, in August, it was reported that his trial will begin on 1 November 2011.
Sonthi’s case will be a test of sorts. Over the last few years, the lese majeste law (Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code) and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act have been used to silence speech not only critical of the royal institution, but often generally dissident speech as well. Sonthi has often been one of the biggest cheerleaders of the ruling Democrat Party-led political order. How will he be treated during his trial? How will his trial be conducted? Will it be open, or, like the case of Darunee and others, will it be closed to the public?
News on Sondhi Limthongkul’s case:
Prachatai, 17 August 2010, “Sondhi Limthongkul’s lèse majesté trial set to start in Nov 2011″
Bangkok Post, 6 July 2010: “Sondhi faces lese majeste case”
National News Bureau, 2 April 2010: “Lèse-majesté case against Sondhi deferred”
Prachatai, 2 April 2010: “Sondhi to be issued with arrest warrant if he fails to report to police by 2 April”
Bangkok Post, 29 September 2009: “Decision on Sondhi case deferred”
The Nation, 22 January 2009, “Attorney to summon Sondhi on lese majeste charge”
Reuters, 24 July 2008, “Thai protest chief arrested over royal insult”
People’s Daily, 17 April 2006, “Anti-Thaksin leader a no-show for lese majeste interrogation”
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