Thailand: Conviction and prison sentences of four prominent pro-democracy activists on lèse-majesté charges

20 February 2026

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 conviction of prominent pro-democracy activists Mr Anon Nampa, Ms Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Mr Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, and Mr Promsorn Veerathamjaree on charges of lèse-majesté in connection with their participation in a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration on 29 November 2020.

On 20 February 2026, the Bangkok Criminal Court convicted Anon Nampa, Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, and Promsorn Veerathamjaree for speeches delivered during a peaceful assembly entitled “Disarm Thai Feudalism,” which was held on 29 November 2020 in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment King’s Guard in Bangkok. All four were found guilty under Article 112 of the Criminal Code (“lèse-majesté”), and sentenced to four years in prison each. Their sentences were reduced to two years and eight months in prison, because the Court found the defendants’ testimonies useful. Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, and Promsorn Veerathamjaree were subsequently granted temporary release on bail, set at 200,000 baht (about 5,490 Euros) for Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and 150,000 Thai baht (about 4,118 Euros) for Pimsiri Petchnamrob and Promsorn Veerathamjaree, pending appeal. Anon Nampa, who did not file a bail request, remains detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

The four pro-democracy activists were also convicted under the 2020 Emergency Decree and for using a sound amplifier without permission and were fined a total of 10,200 Thai baht (about 280 Euros) each.

During the above-mentioned peaceful demonstration, Anon Nampa and Pimsiri Petchnamrob advocated for reforms of the monarchy and amendments to Thailand’s 2017 Constitution. In his speech, Anon Nampa criticised, inter alia, the transfer of military units to the King’s personal command and the transfer of public property to private ownership. In her speech, Pimsiri Petchnamrob addressed the relationship between the military and the monarchy and the history of military coups in Thailand, and cited a statement by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which argued for the incompatibility of Article 112 of the Criminal Code with democratic principles.

The four pro-democracy activists denied all charges against them. Ms Pimsiri maintained that she did not make personal remarks about members of the Thai royal family and only quoted the UN Special Rapporteur’s critique of Thailand’s ‘‘lèse-majesté’’ legislation. Mr Anon maintained that his speech and remarks constituted legitimate criticism and were protected by his right to freedom of expression.

The Observatory recalls that Mr Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk was arbitrarily detained for seven years, from April 2011 to April 2018, as a result of his arrest and subsequent conviction to 10 years in prison on lèse-majesté charges.

The Observatory also notes that Mr Promsorn Veerathamjaree has already been convicted on three prior lèse-majesté cases. He was sentenced to prison terms in connection with his participation in pro-democracy protests in 2021. In each of those cases, he was released on bail pending appeal.

The Observatory further recalls that the additional two years and eight months of imprisonment imposed on Anon Nampa under Article 112 bring his total prison term to 31 years, nine months, and 20 days. Mr Nampa has been arbitrarily incarcerated at the Bangkok Remand Prison since his first lèse-majesté conviction on 26 September 2023. All convictions are currently under appeal, while numerous bail applications have been consistently denied. Between September 2023 and February 2026, he submitted 93 bail applications and 43 appeals against bail denial orders, all of which were rejected. The Observatory notes that Mr. Anon’s latest conviction and prison sentence followed 10 previous convictions related to his public statements and his advocacy for human rights and democratic reforms in Thailand.

The Observatory points out that on 9 July 2025, Mr Anon Nampa was sentenced for the 10th time to two years in prison under Article 112 and four months under Article 116 of the Criminal Code (sedition) in connection with a speech he delivered at a protest in front of Parliament in Bangkok on 17 November 2020.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, between 19 November 2020 and 20 February 2026, at least 291 people, including numerous human rights defenders and 20 minors, were charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Sixteen were reportedly detained pending trial or appeal, and 18 others were serving prison sentences. The systematic abuse of Articles 112 and 116 against peaceful critics and protesters reflects a broader pattern of judicial harassment and a shrinking civic space in Thailand.

The Observatory recalls that Thailand is a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR guarantee the rights to liberty and to a fair trial, while Articles 19, 21, and 22 protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Any restriction must be strictly necessary and proportionate. The imposition of lengthy prison sentences for peaceful criticism of public institutions is incompatible with these obligations.

The Observatory considers that the conviction and continued arbitrary detention of Anon Nampa and the conviction of Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, and Promsorn Veerathamjaree, appear to be solely aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities and the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, in violation of international human rights law.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Anon Nampa, and to ensure that Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk, and Promsorn Veerathamjareeis are not subjected to arbitrary detention, as well as to release all other arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in the country, and to put an end to all forms of judicial harassment against them.

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities of Thailand asking them to:

• Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Anon Nampa, Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and Promsorn Veerathamjaree, and all other human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in Thailand;
• 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, and ensure that Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and Promsorn Veerathamjaree are not subject to arbitrary detention;
• Quash the convictions against Anon Nampa, Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and Promsorn Veerathamjaree, cease all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all other human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in the country;
• 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 ICCPR, in particular by refraining from using Articles 112 and 116 of the Criminal Code to target human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists.

Addresses:

• Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Email: spmwebsite@thaigov.go.th
• Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Email: minister@mfa.go.th
• Mr. Rutthapon Naowarat, Acting 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 representations of Thailand in your respective countries.

***
Paris-Geneva, 20 February 2026

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 intervene 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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