The Phitsanulok Provincial Court on Tuesday rejected a bail application from a well-known American academic charged with royal defamation last week.
Paul Chambers, a lecturer and advisor on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, went to the Muang district police station in the northern province to respond to the charge.
He was accompanied by his wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat, dean of the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences, along with representatives from the US Consulate in Chiang Mai and an attorney.
His attorney, Wannaphat Jenroumjit, stated that although the court had issued an arrest warrant last Monday, no summons had been sent prior to the warrant.
Chambers’ legal team plans to submit another bail application with increased cash surety, citing his medical condition and his willingness to comply with any court conditions, including reporting to the court and accepting supervised release.
The Third Army Region filed the complaint against Mr. Chambers, which includes charges under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste act, and violations of the Computer Crime Act, both often used in conjunction.
Lese-majeste carries a prison sentence ranging from three to fifteen years.
“He was accused of publishing a blurb on the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies website related to an ISEAS webinar in October 2024 about military reshuffles,” explained Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, advocacy lead for Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and part of Mr. Chambers’ legal team.
“He denied all charges, stating that he neither wrote nor published the blurb on the website,” Mr. Akarachai reported to CNN.
Before his court appearance on Tuesday, Mr. Chambers told CNN that he had limited information about the charges and expressed fear of facing up to 15 years in prison.
Mr. Chambers, who earned a PhD in political science from Northern Illinois University, is renowned in academic circles as a commentator on civil-military relations and democracy in Asia, particularly focusing on Thailand, where he has resided since 1993.
His publications include “Khaki Capital: The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia” and “Praetorian Kingdom: A History of Military Ascendancy in Thailand.”
According to TLHR data up to March 31 of this year, since the Free Youth protests began in July 2020, 1,962 individuals have been prosecuted for political participation and expression, with at least 278 facing charges under Section 112 and 156 charged with sedition under Section 116.
Concern for Academic Freedom
Following the charges against Mr. Chambers, many advocates have voiced concerns that this threatens academic freedom in Thailand.
“Unlike other lese-majeste cases, this case involves an extremely well-established academic whose work focuses very deeply on civil-military relations in Thailand and whose expertise is widely acknowledged within the academic community,” Mr. Akarachai conveyed to CNN.
The US Department of State expressed concern over the scholar’s arrest on Monday, offering consular support and advocating for the protection of freedom of expression in line with Thailand’s international commitments.
“The charges against Mr. Chambers signal a severe restriction on free speech and academic liberty in Thailand,” remarked Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in Thailand.
“Paul is considered a major target by ultra-royalist groups, which have launched multiple attacks against him for years—ranging from online disinformation and hate campaigns to pressing authorities to revoke his visa and get him expelled from the university,” Mr. Sunai informed CNN.
Historically, very few foreigners have been charged with lese-majeste. In 2011, Thai-born American Joe Gordon received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for posting a link to a banned book he had translated, later receiving a royal pardon.
