Contemptuous royalist court

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, imprisoned for 112 offenses for 18 years, 10 months, and 20 days “has been charged with contempt of court over an incident on 27 November 2024, when he took off his shirt to protest the Court’s refusal to summon evidence and subsequent decision to try him in secret.”

This is the unscrupulous royalist courts doing their appointed task of “protecting” an unworthy monarchy.

On 23 January 2025, Arnon was taken from his cell to the court for a hearing in this spiteful case.

To make things worse for an already biased and decaying judiciary, “[n]either him [Arnon] nor his lawyers were notified ahead of time.” When Arnon’s lawyers arrived court officials were unable to provide any details about the hearing.

Arnon was “held in the courtroom for around 2 hours before two judges came in and announced to the room that observers are allowed but may not ask questions without permission.” We assume that the delay means that the judges were getting their orders.

Arnon objected to the bizarre proceedings, “because his lawyers were not present, and he was not told what he was being put on trial for.” He stated that the prison officials appeared “in such a hurry that he was not allowed to take a shower.” Obviously, they had also received unexpected orders.

The judge dismissed these objections, “but Anon insisted on appointing a lawyer of his choosing and to summon defense witnesses on the grounds that he has a right to defend himself.”

Asked by Arnon “why the trial is being conducted in such a hurry and without his lawyer, the judge claimed they had a lot of work and wanted to get it done. The judge also said that the only point of discussion was whether Anon took off his shirt in the courtroom…”.

Reluctantly, the judge postponed the hearing to 5 March.

Anon was charged with contempt for his actions during a witness examination hearing in a lese majeste trial on 27 November 2024. The court had repeatedly refused to seek evidence and tried to hold the trial in secret. Arnon protested by removing his shirt. To be honest, PPT wonders if sitting in courts is even warranted when judges ignore the law and make predetermined decisions while they persecute the defendant. Perhaps just ignoring the courts and/or defying them is a reasonable strategy.