Thai police summoned a human rights activist for interrogation over an academic seminar involving discussions about the Thai monarchy.
On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, a human rights activist known for her works with slum dwellers in Bangkok, told media that the police officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station of Pathum Thani Province summoned her for an interrogation over a seminar titled ‘83 Years of Thailand’s Development after the 1932 Revolution of Siam’.
The seminar on the post-absolute-monarchy Thailand was held at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani on 22 June 2015. It was participated by Sulak Sivaraksa, a well known critic of Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, Olarn Chaiprawat, the former advisor to an ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Prateep, and other high profile academics.
The summoned letter was issued by the police station on 26 June 2015, ordering her to report to Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station on 9 July. It mentioned in the summon letter that the seminar’s content involved references about the Thai King.
According to Matichon Online, Prateep suspects that participants of the seminar might have filed a lese majeste complaint against certain speakers of the event .
She added that the complaint might be against Sulak Sivaraksa, a royalist who is known for his firm stand against the lese majeste law.
Last year, Sulak was accused of defaming King Naresuan, an ancient king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom who reigned about 400 years ago, by raising doubts at the seminar on Thai history about the historical battle between the ancient Thai king and a Burmese general.
Suluck told Prachatai in a video interview that Article 112 is only for the protection of the present monarch, the Queen and the Crown Prince
The notorious lese majeste law or Article 112 of the Criminal Code clearly states "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, Heir-apparent or Regent shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years."