Thai protest leaders charged with royal defamation
Thai police charged five key leaders of the country's pro-democracy protest movement yesterday under the kingdom's tough royal defamation laws, the first such use of the controversial legislation in two years. Section 112 of the Thai penal code is one of the world's toughest lese majeste laws, shielding the ultra-powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism. But in recent months leaders of the pro-democracy movement have called for reforms to the monarchy -- including for the law's abolition -- a move that has sent shockwaves through Thai society. Human rights activist Anon Numpa -- one of the most prominent faces rallying for royal reform -- and four others arrived at a Bangkok police station for questioning yesterday.
Comments