ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – A pro-democracy activist in Thailand was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Thursday for criticizing the monarchy. It was the longest prison sentence ever imposed under a royal insult law, a Thai rights group said.
The record-breaking sentences come after Thailand has in recent years stepped up its use of the controversial law against pro-democracy protesters, which critics say is a tactic to silence dissent.
An appeals court in the northern city of Chiang Rai sentenced Mongkol Thirakot, 30, a former pro-democracy activist, to 50 years in prison for posts on his personal Facebook account. He was initially sentenced to 28 years in prison by a lower criminal court.
However, he was found guilty of 11 more charges during the appeal, resulting in a longer sentence.
“The appeals court sentenced Mongkol Thirakot to 22 years in prison for 112 Facebook posts, in addition to the 28-year sentence already imposed by the preliminary court. The total prison sentence is 50 years,” the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said in a statement.
The royal insult law, which protects King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his immediate family from criticism, is often referred to as 112 in Thailand as part of the criminal code.
TLHR said the sentence was the longest sentence imposed for defamation of the kingdom. This sentence beats the previous record of 43 years imposed on a woman in 2021.
Mongkol, the owner of an online clothing shop, was first arrested in 2021 during protests demanding the release of political prisoners.
Youth-led demonstrations in 2020 and 2021 saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets, with many demanding changes to strict royal insult laws.
TLHR said Mongkol will appeal the sentence to the Supreme Court.
More than 250 activists have been charged under royal insult laws since the 2020 protest movement began, according to TLHR. (ATN)
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