Lawyer of Thailand arrested over monarchy protest

Bangkok, Thailand — A Thailand lawyer and activist Anon Nampa is arrested due to his call for reform of the powerful monarchy.

Along with the Thai lawyer, arrest forums have been issued for five other activists as well.

The 36-year-old lawyer was the first to call for a change in the Thai institution earlier this month.

However, according to the kingdom’s lese-majeste law, insulting the monarchy in Thailand can lead to up to 15 years in jail.

When the King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn let it be known that he no longer wants it so widely used, the use of this legislation had slowed in the recent years.

But observers say the government has used other legal routes to target dissent, including the sedition law, which carries a term of up to seven years.

According to Reuters, Anon has been charged with sedition in his second arrest this month. Anon and his other activist, Panupong Jaadnok was arrested on sedation charges earlier this week.

Anon had stressed on that he wanted to reform, not overthrow, the constitutional monarchy on his protest earlier this month.

He also focused in particular on the huge assets of the Crown Property Bureau, which is under the late King Bhumibol, had been notionally held in trust for the benefit of the Thai people, but have now been declared the personal property of the king, making him by far the wealthiest person in Thailand.

Anon further on went on to question King Vajiralongkorn’s decision to take personal command of all military units based in Bangkok, which Anon believes cannot be compatible with a democratic, constitutional monarchy.

“It had to be done,” he said of his call for accountability.”That’s why I chose to speak candidly, to honour my own integrity, the integrity of the audience, and out of respect for the monarchy. Because if we don’t speak frankly about it, then we will never understand it.”

The critics of Thailand monarchy, who fled to neighbouring countries were abducted and murdered in the recent years.