Thai politician receives prison sentence for making derogatory remarks about the royal family

A female MP in Thailand, Rukchanok "Ice" Srinork, has been sentenced to six years in jail for allegedly posting critical tweets about the monarchy. Despite pleading not guilty, Ice was found guilty of insulting the monarch by a Bangkok court. If denied bail, she may lose her seat in parliament. The lese-majeste laws, which impose severe penalties for criticizing the monarchy, have faced opposition from Ice's Move Forward party. The party, which won this year's election, had called for reform of these laws. However, the unelected senate cited these criticisms as the main reason for blocking Move Forward's attempt to form a government. These lese-majeste laws have been a key issue that sparked mass protests in 2020, with the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reporting around 260 charges filed under these laws since then. Approximately 2,000 individuals have faced prosecution under various laws for their involvement in these protests. Just recently, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to prison for shouting at a royal motorcade, criticizing a burden imposed on society. He has since been released on bail. Ice's case is another example of the strict enforcement of these laws, as she was found guilty of insulting the monarch in two social media posts made before joining Move Forward. One post criticized the country's handling of the pandemic, while the other was a repost that was seen as critical of the monarchy. Ice's victory in the May general election was seen as significant, as she defeated a well-established political clan in the Bang Bon constituency near Bangkok. Other prominent figures in the Move Forward party are also facing lese-majeste charges, many of whom were involved in the 2020 protests. The 2020 protests were triggered by a court decision dissolving the Future Forward party, the predecessor of Move Forward, which had campaigned for sweeping reforms of Thailand's institutions. Move Forward's successes in the recent election, including Ice's victory, have surprised the country's establishment. The use of the lese-majeste law was suspended for around two years after King Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne in 2016. However, the bold demands for royal reform by the 2020 protesters led to a resurgence in the law's enforcement, surpassing any previous period in Thai history. The lese-majeste law is highly expansive, making it extremely challenging to mount a legal defense. It is officially regarded as a national security law, and defendants are rarely acquitted. Trials often take place without independent observers, and there is significant pressure for defendants to plead guilty, even if the case against them is weak. Those who plead guilty often receive reduced sentences. As legal proceedings in Thailand can take many years to conclude, activists facing numerous charges related to the 2020 protests will likely be consumed by court hearings for the foreseeable future. This judicial attrition has effectively curtailed the protest movement, as leaders and activists no longer have the time to organize.