112 for two more

Via Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Prachatai reports that two more protesters have been arrested for lese majeste, “contempt of court for singing and speaking at a protest in July 2022….”.

The pair were arrested on 9 March 2023 and both have been denied bail.

Chen. Clipped from Prachatai. Photo by Ginger Cat

Chen Chiwabancha, 55, known as a protest regular and a YouTuber, was arrested at around 16.00 on 9 March 2023 at a protest in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court. Although he had never received a summons, he was arrested on a warrant from the South Bangkok Criminal Court on Article 112 charges as well as contempt of court, defamation by publication, and using a sound amplifier without permission. Chen was initially detained at Yannawa Police Station.

At around 18.25, police also arrested Ngoentra Khamsaen, 43, another protest regular also known as Mani. She had gone to the Yannawa Police Station after Chen was arrested. She faces similar charges to those against Chen. Like Chen, she never received a summons prior to her arrest.

Ngoentra had previously been arrested in August 2022 on “charges of contempt of court, defamation, and using a sound amplifier without permission relating to a protest on 15 July 2022. She was denied bail and detained for 9 days before being granted bail.”

TLHR says the current charges relate to a protest on 28 July 2022 in front of the South Bangkok Criminal Court. It was the court that complained.

According to the police, both “gave speeches without requesting permission to use a sound amplifier and put up banners insulting the court.” In addition, they are accused of singing the Faiyen song ..โชคดีที่มีคนไทย (…Lucky to have Thai people) which is claimed to insult the monarchy.

Ngoentra. Clipped from Prachatai

Chen and Ngoentra were detained overnight at Yannawa Police Station and then taken to the court that lodged the complaint. Predictably, the court denied bail using the usual claim that the charges are very serious, those charged may flee the country or repeat the offense (these are the main legal grounds for denying bail). The order was reportedly signed by judge Phaibun Thongnuam.

As Prachatai explains, the song, banned in Thailand, is “about how Thai people are made to love the King through many means and the punishment the people will face if they do not love the King.

It is reported that “[a]nother protester has previously been arrested for singing the song during a protest in August 2022,” and TLHR states that there are four more cases of lese majeste for singing or playing the song. In these cases, all the accused were bailed.

Ngoentra has previously been detained when she was arrested in August 2022 on charges of contempt of court, defamation, and using a sound amplifier without permission relating to a protest on 15 July 2022. She was denied bail and detained for 9 days before being granted bail.