Thai Court Acquits Progressive Leader of Royal Defamation Charges
In a significant legal decision, a Bangkok criminal court has acquitted Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a prominent figure in Thailand’s progressive political landscape, of charges related to defaming the monarchy and breaching online activity laws. The case centered on comments he made in 2021 during a Facebook Live session, criticizing the government’s handling of COVID-19 vaccine contracts.
Thanathorn, who leads the Progressive Movement, had questioned the awarding of a vaccine production contract to a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, attributing the government’s vaccination campaign failures to this decision. The Bangkok Criminal Court, however, clarified that Thanathorn’s remarks were aimed at then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s administration and did not defame the king.
Thailand’s lese-majeste law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, prescribes up to 15 years of imprisonment for defaming the monarchy. Critics argue that it is often used to suppress political dissent. The charge related to the Computer Crime Act carries a five-year penalty.
Acquittals in royal defamation cases are unusual in Thailand, where the political establishment remains sensitive to perceived threats against the monarchy. After the ruling, Thanathorn expressed relief and called for the respect of political prisoners’ rights, stating, “They are not criminals in a literal sense. They are in jail because they think and they speak.”
Pro-democracy movements, notably led by students, have sought reforms to the lese-majeste law since 2020, only to face prosecution under the same statute. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, over 290 individuals, many of them student activists, have faced charges under Article 112 since early 2020.
The state attorney general’s office, acting as the plaintiff, is considering an appeal against the court’s decision.
Thanathorn previously co-founded the Future Forward Party, which quickly rose to prominence by securing third place in the 2019 general election. Despite its success, the party was dissolved in 2020 after a court ruling regarding violations of election laws. The Move Forward Party, its political successor, gained the most seats in the 2023 elections but was blocked from forming a government by conservative lawmakers. It was later dissolved in 2024 for proposing legal reforms concerning royal defamation.
The movement has since evolved into the People’s Party, which secured the position of the main opposition after finishing second in the 2026 general election.
