14-Year-Old Girl Faces Potential 15 Years for Royal Defamation in Thailand

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14-Year-Old Girl Faces Royal Defamation in Thailand
Representational image (photo: Thairath)

An ultra-royalist accused a 14-year-old girl of royal defamation for her involvement in a Bangkok protest in 2022.

The girl received a summons to appear at a police station on Tuesday for questioning after being accused of breaking Section 112 of the criminal code. The accusation has come from one Mr. Anon Klinkaew, a core member of an ultra-royalist group known as the People’s Center for the Protection of the Institutions.

This makes her the youngest person ever to be charged with royal defamation, also known as lèse-majesté. Her alleged infraction was participating in a protest at the Giant Swing near Bangkok City Hall in October, 2022 waving a sign demanding the repeal of Section 112.

If found guilty, the young girl would be imprisoned for breaking Section 112 by publicly stating that she disagrees with Section 112.

Section 112 of the Criminal Code states that, “Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years.” Anyone convicted of risks three to 15 years in prison on each offense to Thailand’s section 112 penal code.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, there have been at least 18 cases of adolescents under the age of 18 charged under Section 112 since 2020.