A Thai court on Friday sentenced prominent human rights lawyer and protest leader Arnon Nampa to an additional two years and eight months in prison on a new royal defamation conviction, pushing his cumulative jail term beyond 34 years, according to legal representatives and rights groups.
The ruling, confirmed by the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group and Arnon’s attorney, Krisadang Nutcharut, stems from a 2020 demonstration outside the headquarters of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB). Arnon and four co-defendants were convicted under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy and carries penalties of up to 15 years per count.
Arnon, 42, rose to national prominence during the 2020 youth-led pro-democracy movement, which drew tens of thousands into the streets demanding reforms to the military-drafted constitution and unprecedented public scrutiny of the monarchy. He has been detained since 2023, serving multiple sentences related to speeches and social media posts made during that period.
Krisadang told Agence France-Presse that three of the five defendants sentenced Friday were already incarcerated on separate royal insult charges. He characterized the mounting penalties as evidence that the statute has been weaponized against political opposition. “It is now clear that the law has become a political tool used against opponents,” he said.
The specific protest at issue targeted the transfer of shares in Siam Commercial Bank—Thailand’s oldest lender—from the Crown Property Bureau to SCBx, the bank’s holding company. King Vajiralongkorn holds a 23.6 percent stake in SCBx, according to the company’s website. Arnon had called for greater transparency regarding the transaction.
Critics have long argued that the lese majeste law is used to suppress dissent rather than protect the royal institution. With this latest conviction, Arnon’s total sentence underscores the severe legal risks facing activists who challenge the established order in Thailand.
