Updated: Pro-democracy 112

The Appeals Court has found pro-democracy activists Jatuphat Boonpattararaksa and Atthapol Buapat guilty of lese majeste over speeches they delivered at a protest in Chaiyaphum in 2021.

Jatuphat and Atthapol were charged with lese majeste, sedition, violation of the Emergency Decree and the Sound Amplifiers Control Act for speeches they made in front of the Phu Khiao Police Station and Phu Khiao School on 1 February 2021.

Atthapol and Jatuphat. Clipped from Prachatai

The Ratsadon group staged a protest, demanding that police apologize to students for intimidation. The students had registered for a “Ratsadon On Tour” camp, a forum for the exchange of opinions and discussions of problems in Thai society. In all, 26 people, including 15 and 18-year-old students, received summonses for allegedly violating the Emergency Decree.

The speeches by the two activists reflected on monarchy reform “but did not mention any particular king by name…”. Even so, the speeches were considered defamatory of the monarchy. In his speech, Jatuphat “compared the financial standing of the monarchy with that of the people and called for amendment of the Constitution.” Atthapol called for a reduced royal budget.

On 13 September 2024, the Phu Khiao Provincial Court found both of them guilty of lese majeste and sentenced them to three years in prison. The other charges were dismissed.

In addition, Jatuphat was given an additional one year and three months in prison for repeating the offense, taking his sentence to 4.5 years. The court then reduced his sentence to three years.

Atthapol was sentenced to two years.

Both were granted bail to appeal. In the appeal they “argued that they did not target a specific king and that their speech could not fall under the royal defamation [lese majeste] law.”

Of course, the Appeals Court disagreed and ruled on 3 September 2025 that the initial verdict was confirmed.

Bail requests have been filed with the Supreme Court, and they were initially detained at the Phu Khiao District Prison.

Update: Their bail requests were rejected.