A prominent Thai human rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa, was convicted on Tuesday for insulting the monarchy. 

The verdict marked the first instance of a conviction under the contentious lese majeste law since a civilian government assumed power following years of military-backed rule.

Along with a four-year prison sentence, Mr Nampa was fined 20,000 baht ($550) for violating an emergency decree prohibiting large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Nampa, 39, was found guilty of defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a student-led rally held on October 14, 2020. 

This rally aimed to commemorate the popular uprising of 1973, which led to the downfall of a decade-long military dictatorship. 

Importantly, he still faces 13 cases under the lese majeste law. This statute prescribes up to 15 years of imprisonment for insulting the monarch, his immediate family, or the regent. 

The court’s verdict hinged on Mr Nampa’s statement during the rally, where he declared that the decision to disperse the gathering rested with the king.

The court deemed this statement false, asserting that such actions were within the purview of the police, to decide. Consequently, they found him guilty of defaming the king. 

In response to the verdict, his lawyer, Kritsadang Nutcharat, announced his client’s intention to appeal the decision and seek bail. 

Before his imprisonment, he shared his unwavering commitment to the cause with reporters, asserting that even if he loses his freedom, the struggle for change is worth fighting for. 

His family and supporters, approximately 20 individuals, gathered at the Bangkok Criminal Court to express solidarity. 

The lawyer received the 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights from a South Korean foundation for his pro-democracy activism. He has been a vocal advocate for monarchy reform and recently accused the government of employing the internationally notorious Pegasus spyware to surveil his mobile devices.

Critics argue that the lese majeste law is frequently used to stifle political dissent. Since November 2020, at least 257 people have been charged in 278 cases under this law, including at least 20 minors, as the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group reported. 

 While the monarchy has traditionally been considered a cornerstone of Thai society, public debate on this issue, particularly among young people, has grown more pronounced.

Opposition to monarchy reform was spotlighted after Thailand’s general election in May, which concluded nearly a decade of rule under Prayuth Chan-ocha, who initially seized power through a military coup in 2014. 

Despite the progressive Move Forward Party winning the most seats in the election, it was denied power in parliament. Conservative members of the military-appointed Senate, which collaborates with the elected House of Representatives to select the prime minister, blocked party leader Pita Limjaroenrat from assuming the role, citing the party’s mild call for lese majeste law reform. 

Subsequently, the populist Pheu Thai party formed a coalition with military-backed factions. It established a new government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, pledging not to amend the lese majeste law in exchange for political support.