Thailand : Eight conviction of pro-democracy activist Anon Nampa under "lèse-majesté" charges

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Thailand.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed about the eighth and latest conviction and prison sentence of Mr Anon Nampa, a prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer who has been arbitrarily imprisoned since 26 September 2023. On 28 May 2025, the Bangkok Criminal Court found Anon Nampa guilty under Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code (“lèse-majesté”

and sentenced him to two years in prison. This sentence is linked to a speech he gave on 21 December 2020 at Bang Khen Police Station in Bangkok, where he voiced support for six fellow activists who were reporting themselves to the police in connection with a protest held on 29 November 2020. During this speech, Mr Anon advocated for the reform of the Thai monarchy with the aim of making the institution more transparent.

Anon Nampa denied the lèse-majesté charge, maintaining that his remarks constituted legitimate and constructive criticism, and were protected by his right to freedom of expression.

In recognition of his unwavering commitment to advancing and safeguarding human rights despite facing significant threats and serious risks to his own personal safety, on 22 May 2025, Anon Nampa was awarded the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk for 2025.

The latest Bangkok Criminal Court decision adds to a series of previous convictions related to his public statements and his advocacy for human rights and democratic reforms in Thailand.

The Observatory notes with grave concern that this marks the eighth conviction and prison sentence of Anon Nampa under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. All of these convictions and prison sentences have been related to his criticism of the Thai monarchy. In addition, in March 2025, Mr Anon was found guilty by Thanyaburi Provincial Court in Pathumthani Province and sentenced to nine months in prison for violation of Article 116 of the Criminal Code (“sedition”) in relation to a speech he delivered during a protest at Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus) in Pathumthani Province. In the same month, he was also convicted of contempt of court by the Bangkok Criminal Court over an incident on 27 November 2024, when he took off his shirt in the courtroom to protest the court’s unprecedented decision to hold his sixth lèse-majesté trial in secret. As a result, Mr Anon will now serve a total prison term of 24 years one month and 20 days.

At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Mr Anon was still detained the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he has been arbitrarily imprisoned since his first lèse-majesté conviction on 26 September 2023.

The Observatory recalls that on 26 September 2023, the Criminal Court sentenced Anon Nampa to four years in prison on one count of lèse-majesté and imposed a fine of 20,000 baht (approximately 525 Euros) for violation of the Emergency Decree. On 30 September 2023, the Court of Appeals rejected Mr Anon’s request for bail, citing the severity of his sentence and the fact that he would be a flight risk, if released on bail. On 17 January 2024, the Bangkok Criminal Court found Anon Nampa guilty of one count of lèse-majesté and Article 14(3) of the Computer Crimes Act and sentenced him to four years in prison. On 29 April 2024, the Bangkok South Criminal Court found Mr Anon guilty under one count of lèse-majesté and the Emergency Decree, and sentenced him to two years and 20 days in prison, for each count respectively. On 25 July 2024, the Bangkok Criminal Court found Anon Nampa guilty under Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code and Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act, and sentenced him to four years in prison. On 3 December 2024, the Bangkok Criminal Court found Anon Nampa guilty under Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code and Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act and sentenced him to two years in prison, reduced from three years because the court deemed Mr Anon's testimony useful to the trial. On 19 December 2024, the Bangkok Criminal Court found Mr Anon guilty under lèse-majesté and Article 116 (“sedition”) of Thailand’s Criminal Code, and sentenced him to two years and eight months in prison, reduced from four years because the court deemed Mr Anon's testimony useful to the trial. On 27 March 2025, Anon Nampa was sentenced by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court to two years in prison for lèse-majesté, in connection with a speech he delivered in November 2020 in Chiang Mai Province.

The Observatory further recalls that Anon Nampa is currently facing legal action in connection with six more lèse-majesté cases. Mr Anon was previously arbitrarily detained twice. From 9 February to 1 June 2021, he was detained for 113 days on charges of lèse-majesté and sedition (Article 116 of Thailand Criminal Code). These charges were related to a speech concerning the Thai monarchy that he delivered during a peaceful pro-democracy protest at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang on 19 September 2020. The second detention spanned 202 days, from 11 August 2021, to 28 February 2022, in relation to 12 additional lèse-majesté cases. His temporary release requests were denied numerous times.

The Observatory recalls that on 30 August 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) foundAnon Nampa’s detention “arbitrary” and urged the Thai government to release him “immediately” and “accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations”, in response to a petition filed jointly by FIDH and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) on 5 March 2024.

The Observatory notes with concern that between 19 November 2020, and 9 June 2025, 280 people, including many human rights defenders and 20 minors, were charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Eighteen of them are currently detained pending trial or appeal, and 13 more are serving prison sentences. On 14 May 2024, youth activist “Bung” Thaluwang, arbitrarily held in pre-trial detention under “lèse-majesté”, died in custody after a prolonged hunger strike that ended in April 2024.

The Observatory strongly condemns the recent conviction, sentencing, and continued arbitrary imprisonment of Anon Nampa, along with the ongoing judicial harassment against him. These actions appear to be solely aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr Anon and all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in the country and to put an end to all forms of judicial harassment against them.

Actions requested:

Please write to the authorities of Thailand asking them to:

1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Anon Nampa and all other human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in Thailand;
2. Immediately and unconditionally release Anon Nampa and all other detained human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists, whose detention appears to be solely aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities;
3. Quash the convictions against Anon Nampa, cease all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him and all other human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in the country, and ensure that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, as enshrined in international human rights law, and particularly in Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a state party;
5. htRefrain from using Article 112 of the Criminal Code to target human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists.

Addresses:

• Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, Email: spmwebsite@thaigov.go.th

• Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Email: minister@mfa.go.th

• Mr. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice of Thailand, Email: complainingcenter@moj.go.th

• General Pana Klaewplodthuk, Commander in Chief of the Army, Email: webadmin@rta.mi.th

• Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet, Commissioner-General of the Police, Email: info@royalthaipolice.go.th

• Ms. Pornprapai Ganjanarinte, National Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand, Email: help@nhrc.or.th, info@nhrc.co.th

• H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Email: thaimission.GVA@mfa.mail.go.th

• H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador-designate, Embassy of Thailand to Belgium and Luxembourg, and Head of Mission of Thailand to the European Union, Belgium, Email: thaiembassy.brs@mfa.go.th

Please also write to the diplomatic representatives of Thailand in your respective countries.

***
Paris-Geneva, 12 June 2025

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.

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