BANGKOK (AP) – Prosecutors in Thailand accused 18 pro-democracy activists of sedition on Monday, while filing additional charges of insulting the monarchy against three of them.
The charges of sedition, which carry a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison, stem from an anti-government demonstration in September, although the details of the alleged offenses were not immediately clear.
The three accused of violating the law of lese majeste, which prohibits criticism of important members of the royal family, are Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, Jatupat Boonpattararaksa and Panupong Jadnok. A court denied bail to the three and they were being transferred to prison.
Thai authorities have stepped up their legal offensive against those involved in a student-led protest movement that pressures Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government to resign, the constitution must be amended to make it more democratic and the monarchy to be reformed to make you more responsible.
The latter requirement is the most radical and controversial because the monarchy has rarely faced public scrutiny and is considered by many to be an untouchable pillar of Thai identity. Those found guilty of violating the law for criticizing or insulting important members of royalty can face up to 15 years in prison for the offense.
The protest movement reached many Thais, but alienated others, especially monarchists shocked by their criticism of the monarchy. The movement began to lose strength last year amid differences between its factions and due to the resurgence of the coronavirus in Thailand.
Last month, prosecutors accused four leaders of the lese majeste protest and were denied bail.
Jatupat, who was arrested for violating the lese majeste law in 2017, said he and other activists accused on Monday would continue to fight in prison.
“The external movement will certainly continue, no matter what,” he said.
Jatupat on Sunday completed a nearly 250-kilometer (155-mile) walk from northeastern Thailand to the Democratic Monument in Bangkok. Along the way, he campaigned and talked to people about Prayuth’s expulsion, amendments to the constitution and abolition of the lese majeste law.
According to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 382 people, including 13 minors, were charged in connection with the protests, which gained strength last summer. At least 60 of these people have been charged with lese majeste.
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Associated Press editor Bill Bredesen contributed to this report.