BANGKOK (AP) – Thai state prosecutors announced Thursday that they have no intention of suing a charge of a US academic arrest, arrested for a royal family’s delinquent loss.
Last month’s arrest Paul Chambersa lecturer in political science at Naresian University in the northern Fitanulok province, drew concerns from the academic community, particularly Asian studies scholars and the US government around the world.
The decision not to prosecute the 58-year-old Oklahoma native would not immediately clear the charges of shaming a monarchy, also known as “Lèse Majesté,” or violating the Computer Crime Act, which covers online activities.
The announcement said that the State Prosecutor Fitanullock will withdraw the charges in the state court and request that the case files and non-promotion orders be forwarded to the Commissioner of the State Police Area 6.
Chambers, a 58-year-old Oklahoma native who received his PhD in Politics from Northern Illinois University, was arrested in early April on a complaint from the Northern Regional Army Internal Security Operations Command.
He has studied the power and influence of the Thai military, which plays a major role in politics. Since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, it has recently performed 13 coups 11 years ago.
The Army’s Internal Security Operations Command said that the Parliamentary investigation had filed a complaint that Singapore think tank Iseas – Yusof Ishak Institute had translated a webinar on Thai politics as participant from a website run by the Iseas – Yusof Ishak Institute.
Chambers supporters said the webinar blurb cited in his charge sheet as evidence was not written by him.
He was jailed two nights in April after reporting himself to the Fitanullock police and was later admitted. Released on bailThere are several conditions, such as wearing ankle monitors. The court on Tuesday allowed him to remove his device.
Chambers’ visa was revoked at the time of his arrest under the immigration law, which prohibits entry to foreigners deemed to be able to engage in activities against public order or good morality, prostitution, smuggling and drug trafficking. It was not immediately clear whether the lapse would occur.
“The incident reinforces years of concern regarding the use of the Lèse Majesté law in Thailand,” a statement from the US State Department said after Chambers’ arrest. “We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that the law is not used to suppress permitted expression.”
Thai Lèse Majesté Law seeks three to 15 years in prison for anyone who slander, humiliates or threatens a king, queen, heir, or regent. Critics say it’s one such strict law everywhere and is used to it Punish critics of government And the army.
Monarchies have long been considered a pillar of Thai society, and they criticize them as being strictly taboo in the past. Conservative Thais still think it cannot be touched, especially in the military and courts.
but, Public discussion On this topic, over the past decade, it has grown loudly, especially among young people, with student-led democratic protests beginning in 2020 beginning to openly criticize the institutions.
It led to intense prosecution under previously used laws. Lawyers for the legal aid group’s human rights group say that since early 2020, more than 270 people (many of its student activists) have been accused of violating the law.
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