Thailand sentences activist to two years over royal motorcade livestream

A Thai court sentenced 25-year-old activist Tantawan Tuatulanon to two years in prison after finding that a livestream near a royal motorcade defamed the monarchy. Her lawyer immediately said she would appeal.

The Criminal Court convicted Tantawan on Aug. 31 over the livestream, which she aired in March 2022 near a motorcade for King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said the court found that she intended to defame the monarchy when she questioned police conduct during the dispersal of farmers protesting along the route.

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This is simply an exercise of freedom of speech questioning the police’s work and right to assembly.

The court said Tantawan had insulted the monarchy on multiple occasions and that her conduct was “not a good-faith exercise of rights.” Tantawan denied violating Thailand's lese-majeste law. Her lawyer, Khumklao Songsomboon, said the livestream was an exercise of freedom of speech that questioned police work and the right to assembly. “We have fought this far and will definitely continue to do so,” Khumklao said.

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We have fought this far and will definitely continue to do so.

Tantawan was granted bail while she appeals, but cannot travel abroad. The court also fined her 600 baht for disobeying an official's order. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said she had previously been detained over the same incident and went on hunger strike on both occasions.

Tantawan and another activist were arrested in 2024 over allegations that they chased a royal motorcade carrying the king's sister, Princess Sirindhorn. They face sedition and computer crime charges in proceedings that remain pending, according to Khumklao. Section 112 of Thailand's criminal code allows prison terms of up to 15 years for each conviction involving insults, defamation or threats against the king or his family. Rights campaigners and legal observers say the law is interpreted broadly and used to target dissent. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights says nearly 300 people have been charged under the law since the pro-democracy protests of 2020.

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Not a good-faith exercise of rights.