Complainant went to police after seeing photo of their sign on Facebook

Two Bangkok noodle vendors have been indicted on a royal defamation charge for putting up signs at their shop calling for the repeal of the lese-majeste law and the release of political prisoners.

The Phra Khanong Criminal Court on Thursday scheduled the first hearing to examine evidence in the case on Jan 22, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The two women — identified only as Juang, 54, and Tiam, 59 — were released on bail of 200,000 baht each, provided by the Ratsadon Prasong Fund, a crowdfunded organisation that supports individuals accused in political cases.

The complaint was filed on Jan 19, 2023 by Songchai Niamhom, leader of the King Protection Group, after he saw pictures of the signs on a Facebook page. The page did not belong to either of the two women, the lawyers’ group said.

In addition to calling for the repeal of Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the release of political prisoners, the signs contained other material that defamed the monarchy, the complainant said.

Police investigators submitted the case file to the Phra Khanong prosecutor on Aug 21, 2025, and the accused were subsequently called in to acknowledge the charges.

Prosecutors said that the signs on the display cases at the shop were in a public location visible to passers-by. The photos on social media also received likes and shares, they said.

The case is the second one against Ms Juang, according to TLHR. The Bangkok South Criminal Court in March this year convicted her of lese-majeste in connection with a speech she made about royal motorcades in front of the court on July 20, 2022. She received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Embassy rally case

In a related development, three activists were sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for violating Section 112 in connection with a statement they delivered during a protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok in 2021.

The complaint about the statement, which dealt with the nature of Thai democracy, was filed by Anon Klin-kaew, leader of the Center for Protecting the Institution.  

The Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected the defence argument that the statement referred only to royalists and the Constitutional Court, and not to the King as claimed by the prosecution.

The court later reduced the sentences for all three to two years each because they gave beneficial testimony, TLHR said.

The sentences of Thatchapong Kaedam and Nawaphon Liangwatthana were not suspended. The court found that Chatrapee Artsomboon had no criminal record so her sentence was suspended for two years.

According to TLHR, since the start of the “Free Youth” protests in July 2020, up to Oct 31 this year, 1,986 people have been prosecuted in connection with protests and political expression. Of the total, 284 people face one or more charges under Section 112 and another 156 have been charged with sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code.

Complainant went to police after seeing photo of their sign on Facebook

Two Bangkok noodle vendors have been indicted on a royal defamation charge for putting up signs at their shop calling for the repeal of the lese-majeste law and the release of political prisoners.

The Phra Khanong Criminal Court on Thursday scheduled the first hearing to examine evidence in the case on Jan 22, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The two women — identified only as Juang, 54, and Tiam, 59 — were released on bail of 200,000 baht each, provided by the Ratsadon Prasong Fund, a crowdfunded organisation that supports individuals accused in political cases.

The complaint was filed on Jan 19, 2023 by Songchai Niamhom, leader of the King Protection Group, after he saw pictures of the signs on a Facebook page. The page did not belong to either of the two women, the lawyers’ group said.

In addition to calling for the repeal of Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the release of political prisoners, the signs contained other material that defamed the monarchy, the complainant said.

Police investigators submitted the case file to the Phra Khanong prosecutor on Aug 21, 2025, and the accused were subsequently called in to acknowledge the charges.

Prosecutors said that the signs on the display cases at the shop were in a public location visible to passers-by. The photos on social media also received likes and shares, they said.

The case is the second one against Ms Juang, according to TLHR. The Bangkok South Criminal Court in March this year convicted her of lese-majeste in connection with a speech she made about royal motorcades in front of the court on July 20, 2022. She received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Embassy rally case

In a related development, three activists were sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for violating Section 112 in connection with a statement they delivered during a protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok in 2021.

The complaint about the statement, which dealt with the nature of Thai democracy, was filed by Anon Klin-kaew, leader of the Center for Protecting the Institution.  

The Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected the defence argument that the statement referred only to royalists and the Constitutional Court, and not to the King as claimed by the prosecution.

The court later reduced the sentences for all three to two years each because they gave beneficial testimony, TLHR said.

The sentences of Thatchapong Kaedam and Nawaphon Liangwatthana were not suspended. The court found that Chatrapee Artsomboon had no criminal record so her sentence was suspended for two years.

According to TLHR, since the start of the “Free Youth” protests in July 2020, up to Oct 31 this year, 1,986 people have been prosecuted in connection with protests and political expression. Of the total, 284 people face one or more charges under Section 112 and another 156 have been charged with sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code.

Complainant went to police after seeing photo of their sign on Facebook

Two Bangkok noodle vendors have been indicted on a royal defamation charge for putting up signs at their shop calling for the repeal of the lese-majeste law and the release of political prisoners.

The Phra Khanong Criminal Court on Thursday scheduled the first hearing to examine evidence in the case on Jan 22, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

The two women — identified only as Juang, 54, and Tiam, 59 — were released on bail of 200,000 baht each, provided by the Ratsadon Prasong Fund, a crowdfunded organisation that supports individuals accused in political cases.

The complaint was filed on Jan 19, 2023 by Songchai Niamhom, leader of the King Protection Group, after he saw pictures of the signs on a Facebook page. The page did not belong to either of the two women, the lawyers’ group said.

In addition to calling for the repeal of Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the release of political prisoners, the signs contained other material that defamed the monarchy, the complainant said.

Police investigators submitted the case file to the Phra Khanong prosecutor on Aug 21, 2025, and the accused were subsequently called in to acknowledge the charges.

Prosecutors said that the signs on the display cases at the shop were in a public location visible to passers-by. The photos on social media also received likes and shares, they said.

The case is the second one against Ms Juang, according to TLHR. The Bangkok South Criminal Court in March this year convicted her of lese-majeste in connection with a speech she made about royal motorcades in front of the court on July 20, 2022. She received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Embassy rally case

In a related development, three activists were sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for violating Section 112 in connection with a statement they delivered during a protest in front of the German Embassy in Bangkok in 2021.

The complaint about the statement, which dealt with the nature of Thai democracy, was filed by Anon Klin-kaew, leader of the Center for Protecting the Institution.  

The Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected the defence argument that the statement referred only to royalists and the Constitutional Court, and not to the King as claimed by the prosecution.

The court later reduced the sentences for all three to two years each because they gave beneficial testimony, TLHR said.

The sentences of Thatchapong Kaedam and Nawaphon Liangwatthana were not suspended. The court found that Chatrapee Artsomboon had no criminal record so her sentence was suspended for two years.

According to TLHR, since the start of the “Free Youth” protests in July 2020, up to Oct 31 this year, 1,986 people have been prosecuted in connection with protests and political expression. Of the total, 284 people face one or more charges under Section 112 and another 156 have been charged with sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code.