Five Thai protesters charged over clash with Queen Suthida’s motorcade face lengthy sentence or possibly death
- They were charged over an incident during a protest in October last year when thousands marched from the Democracy Monument to the Government House in Bangkok
- A motorcade ferrying Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti passed through the protest zone, and some protesters crowded around the vehicle
If convicted, the group could face a minimum of 16 years jail or life in prison under a law that has not been used for decades and punishes any “act of violence against the queen or her liberty”.
And if the court finds they put the queen’s life in danger, they could be sentenced to death.
They were charged over an incident during a protest in October last year when thousands marched from the Democracy Monument to the Government House in Bangkok.
01:45
Hundreds in Thailand defy ban on public gatherings to demand the release of protest leaders
A motorcade ferrying Queen Suthida and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti passed through the protest zone, and some protesters crowded around the vehicle, raising the three-fingered salute of defiance adopted from The Hunger Games books and films.
Such an overt challenge of the monarchy is unprecedented in Thailand, where a draconian defamation law has been used to shield the royal family from criticism.