UN rights expert urges Thailand to loosen restrictions around monarchy defamation law

7 February 2017 – As a student activist awaits trial in detention for posting a news article about the new monarchy on social media, an independent United Nations expert today called on Thai authorities to stop using royal defamation laws to stifle free speech.

At issue is the concept of lèse-majesté &#8211 the defaming, insulting or threatening of the royal family &#8211 which in Thailand carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

&#8220Lesè-majesté provisions have no place in a democratic country,&#8221 said David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of freedom of opinion and expression. &#8220The lèse-majesté provision of the Thai Criminal Code is incompatible with international human rights law.&#8221

The expert underlined that public figures, including those exercising the highest political authority, may be subject to criticism.

&#8220The fact that some forms of expression are considered to be insulting to a public figure is not sufficient to justify restrictions or penalties,&#8221 he stressed.

The comments were sparked by a case against Jatupat Boonpatararaksa, a student activist, who shared a BBC news article on the new King, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, on his private Facebook page.

Mr. Boonpatararaksa is being held in detention after an appeals court revoked his bail on 27 December, reportedly justified by the case’s sensitive matter and on public order and national security grounds. He is expected back before a judge on 10 February.

In 2015, three people were sentenced to decades in prison for criticizing the monarchy on Facebook.

Mr. Kaye has repeatedly urged the Thai Government to allow free speech, including in July of last year when authorities clamped down on public and social media expressions ahead of a constitutional referendum later in the year.

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.