On Sept. 26, 2023, my fellow human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa was imprisoned in Thailand for calling for the reform of the Thai monarchy. He has been behind bars ever since.
I had the chance to speak to him early final month on the Bangkok Prison Court docket, the place he appeared for a listening to in one of many remaining three lese-majeste instances he’s dealing with beneath Article 112 of Thailand’s Prison Code. This draconian provision punishes with jail phrases of three to fifteen years whoever defames, insults or threatens the Thai king, queen, inheritor obvious or regent. Eleven extra lese-majeste instances filed in opposition to Arnon have already resulted in 11 convictions and a cumulative jail time period of greater than 31 years.
After I met Arnon in court docket, he was barefoot, carrying his jail uniform. I used to be shocked to see he was being stored ankle-shackled your complete time, a transparent type of ill-treatment and a violation of his proper to be handled humanely and with respect for his dignity. I briefly spoke with him about his trial and expressed my full solidarity. When he was finally escorted out of the courtroom to return to jail, he turned to me, and understanding I’m from beer-loving Belgium, he smiled and promised me the subsequent time he would meet me in Brussels for a beer. This rendezvous will probably have to attend a few years.
