Thailand: Constitutional Court rules activists aimed to overthrow monarchy

10/11/21

The Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that three activists aimed to overthrow the state and the monarchy in their speeches, and ordered them and other parties to end all moves against the highest institution.

The court said Arnon Nampa, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul attempted to overthrow the democratic institution with the King as head of state in demands made during a rally at Thammasat University Rangsit campus on Aug 10, 2020 and on other occassions afterwards.

The activists listed 10 demands in their manifesto delivered at Thammasat and at  subsequent events, includng a call for reform of the monarchy and the abolition of Section 112, known as the lese majesty law.

The judges ruled that these demands were in violation of Section 49 of the constitution. 

The court also ordered the three respondents and others to end their movement.

“The three respondents, other organisations and networks must cease their actions,” the judges said in their ruling, read out at the court on Wednesday afternoon.

The court said the ruling carried no penalty for the three respondents.

Only Ms Panusaya was at the court. Mr Arnon and Mr Panupong sent representatives to hear the ruling. They all refused to stay in the courtroom and waited outside.

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https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2213147/constitutional-court-rules-activists-aimed-to-overthrow-monarchy

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59230566

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-court-rules-students-royal-reform-call-sought-overthrow-monarchy-2021-11-10/

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/protests/court-activists-speeches-illegally-advocated-government-overthrow

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/10/thai-court-rules-calls-for-curbs-on-monarchy-are-abuse-of-freedoms

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/arnon-nampa

https://e.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnon_Nampa

JUST IN. Thai Constitutional Court rules speeches by protest leaders @arnonnampa @PanusayaS @mike_rayong last year (calling for monarchy reform) constitute “an overthrow of the democratic regime of government with the King as the Head of State.”‼️#WhatsHappeningInThailand https://t.co/whNCeh2ZSL

— kaewmala (คนบ่ดีย์😈) .|||. (@Thai_Talk) November 10, 2021

A panel of judges announced that the protest leaders' @arnonnampa @mike_rayong @PanusayaS calls for "reform" violates the Thai constitution, which could have overthrown the country's monarchy. #ม็อบ10พฤศจิกา64 https://t.co/88CGNlJyTO

— Chou (@SsuyuChou5) November 10, 2021

Thailand’s Constitutional Court rules actions taken by pro-monarchy reform activists @PanusayaS, @arnonnampa and @mike_rayong on Aug 10 last year were intended to overthrow constitutional monarchy, ordered them and networks to stop such activities pic.twitter.com/XfblPRHBO4

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) November 10, 2021

Solidarity ✊🏽 with Arnon Nampa, Panusaya "Rung" Sitthijirawattanakun , Panupong "Mike" Jadnok & Thai Allies as the Thai constitutional rules on if "asking for reform" counts as trying to overthrow the government. #whatishappeningthailand#milkteaalliance https://t.co/8xiBSy9FVd

— Xun-ling Au 歐迅灵 🏴 (@XunlingAu) November 10, 2021

At 3pm Thai Constitutional Court will give a ruling whether political protest leaders’ (@arnonnampa @PanusayaS @mike_rayong) call for monarchy reform amounts to “an overthrow” of the government.

Note: Thai Constitutional Court has never found anything wrong with military coups. https://t.co/rfkcmuzfv0

— kaewmala (คนบ่ดีย์😈) .|||. (@Thai_Talk) November 10, 2021

ยังเปิด pre-order อยู่เรื่อยๆ ทางเพจ https://t.co/cql8M8JN8I pic.twitter.com/tTNhttA4t0

— อานนท์ นำภา (@arnonnampa) November 10, 2021

“ที่ประชุมผู้บริหารศาลอาญาพิจารณาแล้ว” ไม่ให้ประกัน? Unprecedented bail order cited “Criminal Court executives’ meeting considered” to not allow bail for jailed @arnonnampa charged w/lese majeste. Any Independence, impartiality of judiciaries &rule of law exist in #Thailand? https://t.co/0DLjcPW6Yg

— June Sirikan (@JCharoensiri) November 9, 2021

Countdown to the UPR event on Nov 10. Thailand's Lawyers for Lawyers’ UPR submission includes Arnon Nampa case which showed the lack of freedom of expression and assembly of lawyers, and of effective guarantees for functioning of lawyers. #112WATCH #LeseMajesteLaw #Article112 pic.twitter.com/OVks8QBuRS

— 112Watch (@112watch) November 8, 2021

Tagged: Front Line Defenders, Lawyers for Lawyers, Thailand