Cartooning 112

Prachatai reports that, on 8 January 2024, Tum (first and last name withheld), a 46-year-old cartoonist, acknowledged Article 112 and computer crimes charges “after he was accused of being the administrator of a satirical FB [Facebook] page Khon Klom Khon Liem (คนกลมคนเหลี่ยม), which contained content featuring four satirical cartoons of royal figures.”

The page appears to be still available if logged into Facebook.

The complaint was filed on 18 June 2022 by ultra-royalist snitch Raphiphong Chaiyarat, who claims membership of the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy.

The Technology Crime Suppression Division decided that “Tum was the page administrator and issued a summons for him on 18 July 2022.” He was initially charged over two posts but received an additional summons on 8 January 2024, resulting in charges for a total of four posts.

Two of the cartoons depicted events related to the deaths of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. No content related to the current reign.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights report that on 7 January 2024, some 10 police officers searched Tum’s residence without a search warrant. They seized his mobile phone and tablet, his ID card, house registration, bank passbook, and a notebook.

At the TCSD, police took photos of Tun with the confiscated devices and had him “sign a document confirming the items. His SIM card was later returned to him, and he received a summons on the same day.”

TLHR say that “this is Tum’s second case involving political expression. In 2016, he was prosecuted for involvement in tearing up ballots at the referendum on 7 August.” He was convicted and fined on that case.