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Paul Chambers, who has spent over a decade teaching Southeast Asia politics at a Thai university, had his bail request rejected Tuesday by a court in Phitsanulok province after reporting to police to answer a charge of lese-majeste.<\/p>\n
His case is a rare instance of a foreigner falling foul of strict laws which shield King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from any criticism and can lead to decades-long prison sentences.<\/p>\n
“The immigration police just came into the detention centre earlier this afternoon,” said Wannaphat Jenroumjit, who is with the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and representing Chambers.<\/p>\n
The Thai military filed a complaint against Chambers earlier this year over an article linked to a think-tank website which focuses on Southeast Asia politics.<\/p>\n
“Urgent! Lawyers have been informed that immigration police have revoked the visa of Paul Chambers,” TLHR posted on X.<\/p>\n
The organisation said it will appeal the visa revocation decision within 48 hours and continue efforts to secure Chambers’ release.<\/p>\n
Wannaphat told AFP she had submitted a second bail request on Tuesday and was awaiting the court’s decision.<\/p>\n
She said Chambers was “not confident but remains hopeful” in the Thai justice system.<\/p>\n
Chambers told AFP last week he felt “intimidated” by the situation, but was being supported by the US embassy and colleagues at his university.<\/p>\n
The US State Department said Tuesday it was “alarmed” by the arrest.<\/p>\n
Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, a researcher at Amnesty International who campaigns for the release of political prisoners, said the visa revocation was meant to “intimidate” Chambers.<\/p>\n
“They found his work threatening, so revoking his visa means he can no longer remain in Thailand and continue his work,” he told AFP.<\/p>\n
“The visa revocation is meant to send a message to foreign journalists and academics working in Thailand, that speaking about the monarchy could lead to consequences.”<\/p>\n
He added that the chances of Chambers being granted bail looked grim, given a “pattern” in which people charged under lese-majeste laws are rarely granted bail.<\/p>\n
International watchdogs have expressed concern over the use of the laws — known as Article 112 — against academics, activists and even students.<\/p>\n
One man in northern Thailand was jailed for at least 50 years for lese-majeste last year, while a woman got 43 years in 2021.<\/p>\n
In 2023, a man was jailed for two years for selling satirical calendars featuring rubber ducks that a court said defamed the king.<\/p>\n
tak-fox\/lb<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Agence France-Presse<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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