With 3 updates: Chambers gets a break

The Thai Enquirer Facebook page reports that the Regional Chief Public Prosecutor of Region 6 has decided not to indict Dr Paul Chambers on charges of lese-majeste and violating the Computer Crimes Act.

The Phitsanulok Provincial Prosecutor will request his release from the Phitsanulok Court and will forward the case file and non-prosecution order to the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 6, who may review and contest the decision.

Update 1: Questions have been asked about why the Regional Prosecutor took the decision to not prosecute. PPT suspects we will never know the motive or motives.

It is clear that there was pressure from the US, probably multiplied by the dumb decision on Uyghurs. International organizations also moved quickly, including academic organizations. There was also strong domestic pressure as the opposition took up the case. The case was also remarkably weak (as we know of it so far). And, the response of the Army and ISOC was robust but tone deaf.Each of these pressures has been seen previously (not from the US about a citizen but from other nations). Individually, they can be rejected.

It seems the weight of the pressure and the higher stakes involved in a destabilized international and domestic environment have been sufficient. And, there’s the ever-present role of Thaksin Shinawatra.At this stage, however, we should not rule out a reaction from the Army, ISOC and their ultra-royalist foot soldiers.

Update 2: Here is some of the international reporting on the most recent decision:

The Diplomat, Thai Prosecutors Dismiss Royal Defamation Charge Against American Academic

Asia News Network, Prosecutors drop Lese-Majeste charges against American academic

The New York Times, Prosecutors Will Not Prosecute Paul Chambers, American Accused of Insulting Monarchy in Thailand

ABC News, Prosecutors in Thailand say they won’t pursue royal defamation case against US scholar

World Politics Review, Thailand’s Arrest of Paul Chambers Won’t Stop the Push for Reform

South China Morning Post, Thai prosecutors drop royal insult charge against US academic

Malay Mail, Thailand drops lese-majeste case against US academic Paul Chambers

OU Daily, Thai prosecutors to not pursue royal insult charges against OU alum Paul Chambers

Selangor Journal, Thailand drops royal insult prosecution against American academic

Update 3: Khaosod English Facebook page reports that Thai Lawyers for Human Rights have been informed by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, “on May 2, that Assistant Professor Dr. Phanu Phuttawong, Vice President for Administration, acting on behalf of the President, issued an order terminating the employment of Dr. Paul Chambers, a special expert professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University…. Additionally, Phitsanulok immigration officials have seized Dr. Paul’s passport, which he had just retrieved from the court after the Director-General of the 6th Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered not to prosecute in a Section 112 case. As a result, the issue of his visa revocation remains ongoing.”