Thai court sentences firebrand royalist activist for royal insult
Businessman Sondhi Limthongkul led yellow shirt protests from 2005 to 2008 that undermined two governments backed by ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra
A Thai court sentenced on Tuesday the founder of a pro-royalist protest movement to 2 years in jail for insulting the monarchy by repeating comments deemed offensive made by a political rival.
Businessman Sondhi Limthongkul led so-called “yellow shirt” protests from 2005 to 2008 that undermined two governments led, or backed, by ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
“The accused had no reason to repeat comments made by a political rival in a public space as repeating them made those words known to an even wider audience,” a judge told a Bangkok court.
Thailand’s 85-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej is often portrayed as an almost divine figure and, under tough lese-majeste laws, anything deemed an insult or a threat to the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in jail.
Critics say the law can be misused by political factions or even individuals to discredit and silence opponents.
The case of Sondhi, a former media tycoon, showed that even supporters of the monarchy can ran afoul of the law, said Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand at Human Rights Watch.