Patiwat Saraiyaem was a 23 year-old student and activist at Khon Kaen University when he was arrested on 14 August 2014 and later charged with lese majeste by prosecutors. He was sent to jail for 2.5 years on 23 February 2015.
Patiwat was Secretary General of the Student Federation of the North East.
Patiwat, along with a separately arrested and detained activist, Pornthip Munkhong, for their involvement in a political play, The Wolf Bride (เจ้าสาวหมาป่า), about a fictional monarch and kingdom.
The Wolf Bride was reportedly “performed in October 2013 at the Main Auditorium, Thammasat University, Bangkok, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 14 October Popular Uprising…. The play was organized by former members of the now-defunct Prakai Fai Karn Lakorn, part of the left-leaning Prakai Fai group.”
By 26 October 2014, Patiwat had been denied bail six times. With Pornthip, Patiwat entered guilty please on lese majeste charges on 29 December 2014.
In pleading guilty, the defendants requested that the court suspend the jail terms they expect to receive. The court handed out sentences of 5 years, reduced by half for a guilty plea.
The royalist judges stated that: “performing the play … was an act of defamation and insult in front of numerous people…. Moreover, it was disseminated on many websites, causing damage to the monarchy, which is revered by all Thais [sic.]. Such action is a grave crime that warrants no suspension of the punishment.”
A lawyer said the two defendants were unlikely to appeal the verdict. In fact, experience shows that an appeal results in further punishment and even torture-like legal processes meant to punish the appellants who are almost always refused bail.
Police are reportedly searching for another six people involved in the play, and it is believed that several of them have fled royalist Thailand under the military dictatorship.
Patiwat was released on 12 August 2016.
In 2020, he became involved in student-led protests that criticized the monarchy. In these events he was known as Mor Lam Bank, referring to his skill with northeastern music and singing.
By 1 December 2020, he was being investigated on lese majeste charges, along with Arnon Nampa, Parit Chiwarak, Panussaya Sitthijirawattanakul, and Panupong Jadnok. By 10 February it was reported that state prosecutors announced that 112 cases had been filed against Patiwat, Arnon, Parit, and Somyos Pruksakasemsuk, for speeches about the monarchy during protests in 2020.
Clipped from Khaosod
That case revolved around a 19-20 September protest at Thammasat University and Sanam Luang, with other charges added: sedition and the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums.
They were denied bail on 9 February 2020, prompting Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to express concern over “an abuse of the judicial process to silence peaceful critics.” The denial of bail has been repeated, suggesting they may be detained indefinitely, until they plead guilty and/or their cases heard and a verdict delivered.
Finally, on 9 April 2021, Patiwat was granted bail of 200,000 baht and on condition that he break no further rules regarding public discussion of the monarchy and he stays away from political rallies. His fellow political prisoners were denied bail.
Media accounts of Patiwat’s cases:
Sanam Ratsadon, 8 August 2022: “I’ll live out a hundred lifetimes, but they won’t have my forgiveness” and “Freedom returned. Smoldering with rage.”
Bangkok Post, 10 April 2021: “Patiwat gets bail as protest cohorts stew”
Thai PBS, 9 April 2021: “Ratsadon leader Patiwat Saraiyaem granted bail by court”
Prachatai, 6 April 2021: “Mor Lam Bank: A melancholic melody in a country where hope remains dim”
Prachatai, 24 February 2021: “Protest leaders denied bail again, detained indefinitely”
Prachatai, 12 February 2021: “The 4 ‘Ratsadon’ leading figures bail denial is a breach of presumption of innocence”
Prachatai, 10 February 2021: “The May 18 Memorial Foundation demands release of Thai activists”
Prachatai, 10 February 2021: “Protest at Pathumwan following activists’ detention”
Prachatai, 10 February 2021: “First 2 lèse majesté protest cases detained during trial”
Prachatai, 1 December 2020: “5 protesters hear lèse majesté charges, 3 more receive police summons”
Prachatai, 26 October 2020: “Note from Detention: ‘Mor Lam Bank’ Patiwat Saraiyaem”
PEN Canada, 6 September 2016: “Thailand: Student Activists Released Early”
Khaosod, 16 August 2016: “Exasperating Wait For Release of Loved Ones From Prison”
Radio Australia, 25 February 2015: “Human rights groups slam jailing of two Thai students for ‘royal insult’ in university play”
Asian Correspondent, 24 February 2015: “Thai court jails theater activists for lese majeste”
Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 2015: “Thailand jails two for insulting the monarchy in a university play”
Bangkok Post, 24 February 2015: “Charged scenes as dramatist pair jailed for lese majeste”
The Australian, 24 February 2015: “Thai theatre activists jailed for lese majeste”
The Nation, 24 February 2015: “Jailing of actors for lese majeste stirs criticism”
Voice of America, 23 February 2015: “2 Students Given Jail Terms for Defaming Thai Royal Family”
Daily Mail, 23 February 2015: “Two Thais are jailed for more than two years for ‘defaming the monarchy’ in a university play”
The Indian Express, 23 February 2015: “Producers of ‘The Wolf Bride’ convicted for mocking the Thai monarchy”
Channel 4 News, 23 February 2015: “Jailed for satire: Thailand’s lese majeste convictions”
Irish Independent, 23 February 2015: “Thailand jails students for insulting monarchy in play”
The Times, 23 February 2015: “Thais jailed over satirical play about a king”
Business Times, 23 February 2015: “Thailand jails two on royal insult charge”
Lonely Planet Travel News, 23 February 2013: “Two jailed for insulting Thailand’s monarchy”
Zee News, 23 February 2015: “Thai actors sentenced for crime of lese-majeste”
Deutsche Welle, 23 February 2015: “Rights groups slam conviction of Thai theater activists for royal slur”
Associated Press, 23 February 2015: “2 Thais Who Staged Play Found Guilty of Insulting Monarchy”
Bloomberg, 23 February 2015: “Thai Court Sentences Two for Play Deemed Insulting to Monarchy”
Reuters, 23 February 2015: “Thailand jails two students for insulting monarchy in college play” ( video report by Reuters is here)
BBC, 23 February 2015: “Thai pair jailed for insulting monarchy in student play”
Prachatai, 23 February 2015: “Court sentences theater activists to 5 years in jail for lese majeste”
Khaosod, 23 February 2015: “Theater Activists Jailed Over Satirical Play About Monarchy”
South China Morning Post, 5 January 2015: “Thailand theatre troupe jailed, forced to flee for ‘insulting’ royals with performance”
Prachatai, 29 December 2014: “Wolf Bride theatre activists plead guilty to lese majeste charges”
Bangkok Post, 27 October 2014: “Lese majeste charge out of context”
Khaosod, 27 October 2014: “Activists Charged With Lese Majeste After 70-Day Detention“
Prachatai, 24 October 2014: “Prosecutors file lèse majesté charges against Wolf Bride theatre activists”
Prachatai, 26 September 2014: “Wolf Bride actor denied bail for fifth time”
Bangkok Post, 24 September 2014: “Stage artists feel fettered by censorship”
The Nation, 17 August 2014: “Bail denied for lese majeste suspect”
Prachatai, 15 August 2014: “Another activist charged with lèse majesté over political play”
Prachatai, 15 August 2014: “Khon Kaen student activist charged with lèse majesté for political stage play“
Political Prisoners in Thailand 
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