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Record 43-year sentence for insulting Thai monarchy sends a chilling message to activists - CNN
Jan 20, 2021 1 min, 12 secs

"The sentence is the highest ever handed down by Thai court from violating Section 112," said her lawyer Pawinee Chumsri, referring to the lese majeste law.

Revival of lese majeste

Since late last year, authorities have brought lese majeste cases against dozens of protesters after more than two years of the law not being used.

Their demands included the King be held to account under the constitution, a curb on his powers, and transparency over his finances.

From November 24 to December 31, 2020, at least 38 people were charged under lese majeste, including a minor and several university students, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political scientist and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said Anchan's sentence "means the lese majeste law is back in full force."

"Because it dates from the last reign and the coup in 2014, this record-setting sentence after a hiatus is seen as a warning shot to the ongoing youth-led protest movement against the new monarch," he said.

But with the almost three-year hiatus of lese majeste cases over, analysts say the sentence suggests old cases will now be activated.

Anchan, a former civil servant who worked for the Revenue Department, was arrested in January 2015, not long after the military overthrew Thailand's civilian government in a coup.

Anchan's case was initially brought before a military court and she was detained for almost four years while awaiting trial, her lawyers said.

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