‘Penguin’ faces record 25th lese majeste charge

Political activist Parit “Penguin” Chivarak reported to Thong Lor police station this week to face another lese majeste charge, making him the political activist with the most lese majeste cases at 25, according to the Thai Human Rights Lawyers’ Centre.

The complaint was lodged against him by former Palang Pracharath Party MP Pareena Kraikupt in connection with a social media post he made in December 2021, according to the centre.

In his post concerning a Constitutional Court ruling on former prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s qualifications, Mr Parit was accused of offending the monarch as well as violating the computer crime law.

Mr Parit appeared before investigators at Thong Lor police station on March 21 and denied both charges. He also refused to have his fingerprints collected and told investigators he would submit his statement within 30 days.

He was summonsed to face the charges on Feb 23 but asked for a postponement. Mr Parit was released yesterday after acknowledging the charges.

According to the centre, this was the 25th lese majeste case against Mr Parit over his political activities during 2020-2021 and since November 2020, at least 269 people have faced lese majeste charges.

In a related development, the Criminal Court yesterday rejected a bail application for political activists Tantawan Tuatulanon and Natthanon Chaimahabut on the grounds that there was no reason to reconsider the matter.

The lawyers representing the pair applied for bail yesterday for their temporary release and asked the court to appoint Sommai Tuatulanon, Ms Tantawan’s father, as their bail supervisor.

Ms Tantawan and Mr Natthanon are in custody while receiving hospital treatment for their condition after they staged a hunger strike. Ms Tantawan is at Thammasat University Hospital, while Mr Natthanon is at the Medical Correctional Hospital.

Both have been charged over an alleged royal motorcade protest on Feb 4 in Bangkok.