Port Faiyen’s first 112 appeal rejected

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reports that on 23 January 2025, the Criminal Court heard the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the case of “Port Fai Yen” or Parinya Cheewinpatom, former singer and musician of the anti-monarchist band Fai Yen.

An earlier photo of Port

He was accused of lese majeste for stating in Facebook posts that a coup in Turkey had been unsuccessful Because there was no king to approve the coup and for including song lyrics and 2 more posts from 2016, when Bhumibol was still alive that were held to be in breach of Article 112.

On 15 August 2022, the Court of First Instance ruled that all three statements constituted lese majeste and computer crimes.  He got nine years for lese majeste but the court reduced this by a third. The court also ordered the granting of bail during an appeal.

Port appealed, insisting his actions were not defamatory, insulting or malicious and that he did not mention the names of anyone covered by Article 112.

The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the first court, considering the posts and songs attacked the monarch – two of them – and gave the public the “wrong” impression. Actually, the right impression, but the royalist courts have no concern with facts. As in other cases, the court ruled that telling the truth about insulting Bhumibol constituted an offense against his son as well.

Parinya’s lawyers stated that they would appeal to the Supreme Court, but he was held in detention while that court considered bail. On 26 January 2025, bail was granted.