Arnon Nampa (Thai: อานนท์ นำภา; RTGS: Anon Namphaalso spelled Anon Numpa; born August 18, 1984) is a Thai human rights lawyer and activist. He is renowned in Thailand for openly criticizing the monarchy of Thailand, breaking the country's taboo.[1] He was initially regarded as a prominent human rights defender during his tenure as a human rights lawyer and later accumulated multiple criminal charges due to his active involvement in pro-democracy activism. He is considered to be one of the leading figures of the 2020–2021 Thai protests, co-leading reforms to the monarchy reform movement by non-elite people for first time in Thai history.[2]
In 2020, he was detained without trial for 24 days. Further to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha using all laws, including lèse-majesté, against protesters in November 2020, Nampa's detention was ultimately extended to 110 days. After he received bail in June 2021, he was imprisoned again from August 9, 2021, to February 27 February 2022, without trial for 203 days. His total imprisonment time between 2020 and 2022 is 337 days.
On January 17, 2024, Nampa was sentenced to further four-year imprisonment for lèse-majesté through social media in 2021.[3]
Early life
Roi Et: 1984–2003
Arnon Nampa was born on August 18, 1984, in Thung Khao Luang, former Thawat Buri to a family background rich in agriculture in Roi Et Province. His parents were rice farmers.[1] He studied for secondary education at a top provincial school, Roi Et Wittayalai, and gained the nickname "The Little Communist" for his rebellious actions. He wrote poems and put papers all over the school walls rebuking and criticizing teachers and friends who cooperated in tutoring in extra-private classes. He protested and collected a list of students who disagreed with class-time change because it would make rural students miss commuting back to their houses.[4]
During his first three years at his school, it did not accept female students. He promised the students to change that, which led to him elected as a student council president in 2002. In his presidential year, he presented the 6 October 1976 massacre content on a school board and started 'Sports Event: Women's School—Roi Et School'.[5] He also won first place in the northeastern region for the law questionnaire student competition in that year. Chamlong Daoruang, Roi Et Wittayalai alumni and Free Thai Movement member, was his influencer in his early years.[6]
Arriving in Bangkok: 2003–2007
Having an interest in poetry, he chose the Thai language program in the Faculty of Education of Mahasarakham University in 2003, but the university did not interest him enough, so he did not enroll. After reading the history of Thammasat University, he sought to be in the Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology at Thammasat University, but after two months, he decided to leave and studied law at Ramkhamhaeng University instead.[4]
After Arnon graduated with a law degree in 2006, he was conscripted to the military for one year by catching a red lottery. In 2007, he passed an exam for a lawyer license before his service ended. He won the first case at Military courts of Thailand, in which his first client was a drafted military colleague.[6]
Human rights lawyer
Red shirts lawyer: 2007–2010
Arnon started a lawyer internship in 2007 at EnLAW Thai Foundation by Surachai Trongngam,[7] practicing human rights defense in cases such as the Sahaviriya steel mill project protests in Bang Saphan District, police crackdown on the Thai-Malay gas pipeline project protest, and the Charoen Wat-akson assassination-related Bo-Nok and Ban-Krut coal power plant protest, gaining him an awareness of problems involving human rights violations.[8] In 2008, his internship ended and he went out on a trial by himself.[4] He received a barrister degree from the Thai Bar Association in 2009.[9]
Amid the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation, army group that took over the country after the 2010 red shirts crackdown occurred, Arnon became Sombat Bunngam-anong's the Red Sunday Group's lawyer, named by some media as the 'Red Sunday Lawyer'.[10] His ability to handle court cases earned him the nickname 'lawyer for the Red Shirts'. He became a lawyer of the monarchy defamation cases because, because of the political crisis, red-shirt activists who disagreed with the 2010 coup were charged with lèse-majesté. His early help on the cases were Chotisak Onsoong case, Suwicha Thakor case.
Ratsadornprasong Law Office: 2011–2014
In 2011, Arnon started his pro bonolaw practice, the 'Ratsadornprasong Law Office'. He worked with two other lawyers to help red-shirts protesters in almost 100 cases[11] and people who had been charged with lèse-majesté in a political conflict.[12] The firm's notable cases and works included the burning of the Mukdahan Provincial Offices case with over twenty defendants; charges were later dismissed in 2019. His firm also helped poor defendant families' welfare and provided reparations to other detained red-shirt defendants. He helped in the 'Uncle SMS' Ampon Tangnoppakul case, Thantawut or 'Noom Rednont', Joe Gordon on a translation of The King Never Smiles book. The firm helped operate the People's Information Center: The April-May 2010 Crackdowns (PIC) and involved in 'Nuamthong' movie[13]
The firm ended in 2013 due to the political crisis unfolding before the 2014 Thai coup d'état occurred. It became the 'Ratsadornprasong Fund' to bail out political activists from strict military regime prosecution, and has been helped political activists until today.[14]
Two days after the 2014 Thai coup d'état, Arnon and his lawyer friends founded Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) to tackle those arrested, summoned, and detained by the military junta, including cases in military court. He positioned himself to be a freelance lawyer, receiving cases from TLHR.[7] Later, he pursued a career as a human rights lawyer and went onto to defend court cases on behalf of prominent high-profile activists, including Aekachai Hongkangwan and Phai Dao-din.[1]
Early activism
Resistant Citizen: 2014–2017
Arnon co-founded the Resistant Citizen group in January 2015 after he organized many experimental protests and the 'Coup Down People Rise 2015' party, a symbolic event at the Democracy Monument on December 31, 2014. The group released multiple YouTube parodies and performance arts about the coup, in which he played the main role in 'Chub Yei Chan-O-Cha' (Kiss to mock the moon, O-Cha). The moon in Thai is 'Chan', he dressed Prayut Chan-o-cha military uniform in the parody music video.[15]
Arnon leader of 'Election that We (Love) was Stolen' protest at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Valentine's Day 2015
The Resistant Citizen group set up the 'Election that We (Love) Stolen' event at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Valentine's Day, February 14. They wanted to create a space where people could speak their minds. After the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta silenced Thai people for almost a year. They staged a mock election to recall the February 2 Feb 2014 election which was rescinded, attracting about 300 people. Arnon, Siravich Sereethiwat, Punsak Srithep, and Wannakiat Chusuwan were arrested and charged by Army Col. Burin Thongprapai with violating the military junta order prohibiting an assembly of more than five people. He was bailed out after being detained one night at the Phayathai police station.[16] He gained a lot of attention from the news, stating "Many months have passed; half of my friends are in jail; the other half fled to other countries." when asking about the pressure he felt after an arrest.[17] He was also charged under computer crime laws for Facebook messages he posted.
His group organized another event in March 2015, 'I Walk Therefore, I Am'. Arnon and another three defendants walked 3 days from Bangbuathong to Patumwan police station to protest that civilians should not face military court. It was called the landmark case from the Human Right Watch that could shake strict military rule.[18]
Arnon was arrested a second time in 2015 on the train traveling from Bangkok Noi to Rajabhakti Park, led by Siravich of the Democracy Studies Group. The campaign "Taking a train to Rajabhakti Park to throw light on graft techniques" was to look into alleged corruption during park construction. Army troops intercepted a train carrying student activists and disconnected their carriage from the train at Ban Pong Station, Ratchaburi. He and the other 37 activists were taken to the National Office of Buddhism in Phutthamonthon park, until later in the night when they were released. He was detained in Bangkok Remand Prison on April 25, 2016 by the court prosecution of a military judge advocate, Col.Burin Thongprapai, the complainant, and was later released by bail.[19] At the end of 2019, the court withdrew an accusation.[20]
On October 31, 2015, he was charged under the Public Assembly Act for using an amplifier without permission during an activity recognizing the death of Nuamthong Praiwan. He was fined 200 baht by Pol. Col Attawit Saisueb, Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police Division One.[21]
On April 19 and 27, 2016, he and the Resistan Citizen group invited people to stand, literally, at the Victory Monument to protest military harassment against activists. He and other 15 activists were arrested for a Protesting Act violation on both days.[22] In 2019, the court ordered fining him 1,000 baht.
Aside from activism, he took on a lot of lèse-majesté cases that spiked in the year after the coup, such as '30 years in jail' for posting insults to the monarchy.[23] He was also a lawyer for Thanakorn Siripaiboon who was charged with infamous lèse-majesté related to the King's dog, 'Tongdaeng',[24] and Siravich's mother, who was charged 15 years in prison for 'Ja' Facebook message reply.[25] Thanet Anantawong, the Dao Din group, and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa were also his clients.
In late 2017, continuing to work as a human rights activist, he communicated human rights stories on his Facebook account and eventually criticized the court for punishing his particular group of clients by restricting them from seeing each other. He said that the court had no right to order that. On December 5, he was charged with violating the Computer Crime Act and contempt of court by Lt.Col.Supharat Kam-in.[26] He denied all charges and said that it was politically motivated against exercising rights to freedom of expression. Human rights NGOs demanded a military junta stop strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP suits).[27]Front Line Defenders condemned the military junta for judicial harassment of him, strongly believed it was linked to his human rights lawyer duty, and demanded junta drop all charges against him.[28]
Demanding an election: 2018–2019
Arnon holding a mocking ballot box and Rome is giving a speech on 10 August 2018 protest
On January 27, 2018, a group of activists demanding a general election—Arnon, Sirawit Seritiwat, Nutta Mahattana, Rangsiman Rome, Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, Ekachai Hongkangwan, and Sukrid Peansuwan—were charged with more than four acts of incitement against the state by the same person who charged him in 2015, Col.Burin Thongprapai.[29]
On February 10, 2018, Arnon, Sirivich, and Rangsiman led 200–500 protesters at the Democracy Monument to demand a general election within the year 2018 and to criticize Prayut and Prawit Wongsuwan.[30] The police charged him and six individuals seen as the leaders with sedition under the order of the head of NCPO No. 3/15. On July 23, 2019, the charge was dropped.[31]
He and other activists organized a political rally of the people who want an election at the army headquarters and the UN building on March 24 and May 22, 2018. The authorities informed him of the sedition accusation. Later in October, he was charged again under the Computer Crime Act for sharing Rajaphakti's plan and "liking" Tongdeang the King's dog parody case in Facebook.[32]
On January 6, 2019, he led a demonstration calling to stop postponing a general election at the Victory Monument.[33] After the 2019 Thai general election ended, he protested every day for a week to the Office of Election Commission of Thailand which prosecuted critics who criticized the counting process and confused initial results by just standing. Unofficial results, which typically would be known by the same night and announced the next morning, were repeatedly delayed for 44 days. [34]
Reforms to the monarchy: 2019–2020
Prologue
On September 30, 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn ordered an emergency decree. As a result, two infantry regiments were removed from the Royal Thai Army's chain of command and placed under the Royal Security Command to consolidate his personal authority. All personnel, assets, and operating budgets were likewise transferred to the agency. On October 14, Arnon posted an open letter to the House of Representatives on Facebook, urging them to open a discussion and vote against it. He explained it was contrary to Article 172 of the Constitution because it is not an urgent matter and it is an extension of the military power of the monarchy that would break the democratic system, which normally military power should be under the cabinet executive to be able to be checked and balanced by the National Assembly of Thailand and the Judiciary of Thailand.[35] Later, an emergency decree passed, but 70 representatives from the Future Forward Party which later dissolved by the Constitutional Court led by Piyabutr Saengkanokkul voted against it.[36]
On June 16, 2020, after he was accused of a computer crime violation again by an unknown person, he posted about the monarchy budget on Facebook. He filed a letter to Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, demanding to explain and investigate the monarchy budget, and urged to distribute a fraction of it to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.[37]
Arnon on 18 July 2020 protest
On June 24, Arnon and the DRG organized a pre-dawn protest at the Democracy Monument across the nation to commemorate the 1932 revolt that ended the absolute monarchy and started the democratic system.[38] These events were trending number one on a Twitter platform but later they were charged with several minor violations.[39]
On July 18, the student group Free Youth Movement organized a public demonstration that drew more than 2,000 protesters at the Democracy Monument. He reminded protesters to support prisoners convicted under the lèse-majesté law, and Tiwagorn Withiton who posted a picture of himself wearing the viral "I lost faith in the monarchy" t-shirt, was then forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He called for the dissolution of parliament because of an unfair election and the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, for officials to stop threatening citizens, and drafting a new constitution that appoints 250 junta senators to vote for himself to be prime minister. Later on July 20, he addressed the Royal Thai Army, demanded the army to stop harassing activists, repeal the junta senate, and stop a coup amnesty.[40][41]
Breaking the taboo
Harry Potter-themed protest on 4 August 2020, kickoff the reforms to the monarchy
In mid-2020, despite openly criticizing the monarchy and protesting on social media, such as in the Tiwagorn case, no one had tried public speaking. Eventually, on Monday evening of August 3, 2020, Arnon Nampa openly criticized the monarchy in front of 200 protesters dressed as wizards for a Harry Potter-themed protest at the Democracy Monument. It was regarded as the first time in Thai history that the monarchy's powers were curbed in an unusually frank public speech. Only Somsak Jeamteerasakul had done it, but in closed academic seminars and public articles. Another case is Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul comments against the monarchy during a speech at the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship political rally in 2008 Thai political crisis.[42]
He stressed that he wanted to reform the constitutional monarchy, not overthrow it, and focused on the asset transfer from the Crown Property Bureau to the personal belongings of the King. He also questioned the King's decision to transfer two military units to his command, which was not a democratic, constitutional monarchy. He accused King Maha Vajiralongkorn of creating unprecedented changes in the constitution. He told the media that he spoke candidly, to honor his integrity, the integrity of the audience, and out of respect for the monarchy.[43]
Arnon being dragged by officers upon his first arrest
On August 5, Apiwat Kanthong, the lawyer of Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, filed a complaint for the crime of lèse-majesté, removing him as a member of the Lawyers Council. On August 7, the Samranrat Police arrested him and Panupong Jadnok with sedition after the July 18 Free Youth protest. Later that day, Arnon and Panupong were dragged by police officers from the Criminal Court to a police vehicle and taken to the Huai Khwang Police Station. He and Panupong were released on bail on the evening of August 8 by a Criminal Court order.[44] On the next day, he continued giving out speech again in the Chiang Mai protest.
He said in an interview later that the students wanted to do this before, but they asked him to start the movement. He told me that a reaction from the protesters and the police were thrilled, silent, and worried about him. Some media deleted live streaming of his speech.[45]
Revolutionary rally
A week later from the historic speech from Arnon, on August 10, 2020, there was a revolutionary rally at Thammasat University, regarding the Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province named "ธรรมศาสตร์จะไม่ทน" (lit. Thammasat will not tolerate.). Penguin or Parit Chiwarak wrote the revolutionary 10 monarchy reform manifestos, adapted from Somsak Jeamteerasakul, and let Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul read them out without fear from abduction and murder. In front of more than 1,000 protesters, Arnon also repeatedly gave out a monarchy reform speech again.[46][47]
Despite monarchy reform demand protests earlier, 7 days later, the biggest anti-government protest on August 17 by the Free Youth Group was different. They demanded only for the government to resign, to dissolve the parliament, and to hold a new general election under a revised constitution. Drawing more than 20,000 people at the Democracy Monument,[48] Arnon said about "the biggest dream of seeing the monarchy stay alongside Thai society", rather than unattached above it.[49]
He was arrested again on August 19 at night for sedition, the Assembly Act, and the Computer Crime Act for a Harry Potter-themed speech. He spent a night at Chanasongkram Police Station and was released on bail in the morning. The police searched his house to find illegal evidence but found nothing.[50] On August 25, he was arrested again for sedition over his speech on August 10 and was released on bail.[51] Later, on September 1, he reported that the state official harassed him by visiting his grandmother house.[52]
Arnon and Panupong were released on bail, 7 September 2020
On September 3, 2020, the court revoked the bail appeals of Arnon and Panupong Jadnok, and they were remanded until further notice. The court ruled that both of them had breached their bail terms by taking part in protests.[53] Arnon was immediately re-detained, and the court justified this on the theory that "in order to prevent the offender from causing other harm," Being detained for 5 days, on September 7, the police withdrew the request. He and Panupong were released. The Clooney Foundation for Justice called it an unlawful bail condition.[54]
Arnon Nampa on 19 September 2020 protest
Eventually, Arnon, Panupong, Panusaya, Parit, and prominent activists such as Pai Dao Din, organized a 19–20 September protest in front of the Grand Palace's Sanam Luang drawing around 18,000–50,000 protesters.[48] The main goal of 2020-2021 Thai protests, to curb the palace's powers. He has been regarded as one of the leaders since then. He repeated his monarchy reform goal: "Unless the monarchy is under the constitution, we will never achieve true democracy," and "the country belongs to the people, not the monarchy.". The leaders placed a commemorative brass plaque, 'the'second Khana Ratsadon plaque', to remind them of the 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy.[55] They have been called 'Ratsadon' by media.[56]
Ratsadon
On Wednesday, October 14, the 47th anniversary of a major student-led 1973 Thai popular uprising, Arnon and other Ratsadon leaders organized a marching protest to the Government House, drawing around 8,000 protesters. It was a general strike planned by them. He led a mass on the truck to the Democracy Monument.[48] Later on the morning of October 15, he was forcibly taken by a special commando unit without a lawyer to the Chiang Mai Police Station, facing sedition charges by Apiwat Kanthong, Prayuth Chan-O-Cha's lawyer, complaining to Pol. Col. Phuwanat Duangdee for a speech on stage about the monarchy in Chiang Mai and Pathum Thani.[57]
On October 16, he wrote on plain paper to the court that the judicial process, order, and judging are unfair. He had believed in Thai judicial systems before, so he decided to study law. But in his experiences, he found that a judicial process is part of a dictatorship. He believes that someday the court will rethink it and get back to standing with Thai society.[58] The protest escalated on October 16 October when the police fired a water cannon at a large crowd at the Pathumwan intersection.[59]
He had been detained at Chiang Mai Central Prison until October 27; he was released on 200,000 baht bail, but Pol Lt Col Chok-amnuay Wongboonrit, Chana Songkhram police, arrested him straight away for sedition and ruining archaeological sites in '19-20 September protest'. He was then taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison. In the evening, the Criminal Court denied bail for him on the grounds that he might cause unrest.[60]
Ekachai Hongkangwan, Arnon Nampa, and Somyot Prueksakasemsuk got bail on 2 November 2020
After being in prison for 19 days since October 15, he was released on November 2 at midnight along with political activists Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, and Ekkachai Hongkangwan, making his jail time total 24 days this year without the court verdict.[61]
On November 17, Arnon and Rasadon led the protesters to the Sappaya-Sapasathan parliament to pressure the parliament to accept the constitution amendment bill sponsored by civil group iLaw. The police used the water cannon to fire a tear gas liquid, causing many protesters to be injured. At the end, the police ran back and let the mass gather in front of the parliament. He called on demonstrators to gather at Ratchaprasong Intersection on November 18 and said to fight face-to-face with the monarchy. That day, the protesters sprayed paint around the police headquarter, insulting the monarchy.[62][63]
Lèse-majesté strikes
On November 19, Prayuth Chan-o-cha promised to use 'all laws' against the protesters, including lèse-majesté law, or Article 112, but the protests had taken place almost every day from October to November.[64] Arnon also received a summons for lèse-majesté in addition to other charges.[65] The Clooney Foundation for Justice Initiative called on the Thai government to dismiss these charges against him and others to stop sanctions on free speech and peaceful assembly.[66]
Arnon and Ratsadon led the protesters to protest at the SCB banking company owned by Vajiralongkorn on November 25 and at the Bangkok army barracks on November 29. All venues were related to reforms to the monarchy. On December 3, he still spoke directly to the king, saying that he should stay with the 'the King can do no wrong' idea.[67] He stated that he would take a break during the New Year's holidays and will continue the rally in 2021 with more escalation.[68]
Nevertheless, on February 9, 2021, Arnon and the Ratsadon group Parit, Patipan Luecha, and Somyot were arrested and detained again on charges of lèse-majesté and 10 other offenses, including sedition, over a September 19–20 protest by Pol Lt Col Chok-amnuay Wongboonrit and Chana Songkhram police. The court denied them bail and remanded them in the Bangkok Remand Prison. US National Security AdvisorJake Sullivan expressed concern. United Nations human rights experts condemned the rising lèse-majesté cases.[70] After the Court of Appeal rejected a request and cited their disrespect for the monarchy, they posed a flight risk. In front of Bangkok Remand Prison, Prachak Kongkirati, Yukti Mukdawichit, Boonlert Wisetpreecha from Thammasat University, and Puangthong Pawakrapan from Chulalongkorn University, claiming to represent 255 lecturers at 31 universities and education institutions, read out a statement calling for their release.[71]Human Rights Watch said that the country may return to the dark days by abusing the law and demanded the Thai government to conform with Thailand's international human rights law obligations.[72]
His lawyers tried to appeal on many occasions, but all were denied for the same reason by the court. By this time, he was jailed, awaiting trial. He was prosecuted in 21 cases, 11 of lèse-majesté cases.[73]
On March 15, Arnon wrote the petition, fear of death threat, to the Criminal Court while he was temporarily released to perform his lawyer duty. Prison officials tried four times to take Jatupat and Panupong out to test COVID-19 at night, which was an unusual time. Arnon found it suspicious, and there were rumours that they will be sent to hurt or kill.[74]
On April 8, Arnon, Jatupat, and Somyot signed a letter expressing their intention to withdraw their lawyer from the trial because he cited a lack of due fairness in the court and was therefore no longer required to defend them. While Patipan was released by bail, Parit and Panusaya had committed a hunger strike until he get a bail.[75]
Arnon was infected with the coronavirus in custody and sent to the prison hospital on May 6 May.[76]
110 days after being detained without a court verdict, on June 6, he was given bail of 200,000 baht on conditions that included refraining from defaming the monarchy and inciting non-peaceful events along with Panupong. He was immediately treated in hospital after he had infected the coronavirus.[77]
He resumed activism on June event by reading 'Prakat Khana Ratsadon', a declaration on the Siamese revolution of 1932.[78]
Bangkok Remand Prison: August 2021–February 2022
Wizardry-theme Arnon Nampa on 3 August 2021
On August 3, Arnon Nampa gave a critical speech once again in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre to commemorate 'Harry Potter themed' last year. This time he demanded a revoke of Article 112 and the transfer of public assets from the King back to their previous status.[79] He was imprisoned on August 9 August for lèse-majesté charges.[80]
On November 10, 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that Arnon's speech, calling for reforms of the monarchy in the 'Thammasat will not tolerate' rally on August 10, 2020, aimed to overthrow the state and the monarchy in their speeches. The court ordered him and other protest groups to end all monarchy reform movements, as Arnon never had a chance to prove the wrongdoing in court because he had been in the jail.[81]
On February 28, 2022, Arnon received bail from all courts after he had been detained for 203 days.[82] His total imprisonment time between 2020 and 2022 is 337 days.
Personality and personal life
Born in a rice field, he often recalled a natural and rural feeling of a rice field and agriculture. He convinced himself to be 'Arnon' in Caravan 'phleng phuea chiwit' album 'Arnon' (1988), Sai Sima character in Seni Saowaphong novel Pisat (1994), characters in Komtuan Khantanu and Naowarat Pongpaiboon's books. His Facebook profile photo was Chit Phumisak.[8]
^"อนาคตใหม่ เสียงแตก "งดออกเสียง" หรือ "คว่ำ" พ.ร.ก. โอนหน่วยทหาร" [Council meeting: New future shows "abstain" approval of the Royal Decree as the Act on the transfer of the 1st - 11th Infantry Regiment to the royal government]. BBC News ไทย (in Thai). 15 October 2019.
^"อานนท์ นำภา : "รู้ว่าเสี่ยงแต่ต้องทำ"" [Arnon Nampa: Human rights lawyers call to investigate the use of budgets related to the monarchy]. BBC News ไทย (in Thai). 19 June 2020.
