A double lese majeste-computer crimes charge

This is a part from an interview with David Streckfuss who recently completed a seminal book on lese majeste law entitled “Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, treason, and lese-majeste”. Questions by Pravit Rojanaphruk. 

6) Is there anything particularly unique about the recent arrest of Prachatai on-line newspaper's director Chiranuch Premchaiporn under lese majeste law?

Chiranuch’s arrest indicates a worrying trend in lese majeste arrests. First, the police admit that they had a warrant for her arrest for as long as a year before actually seizing her at the airport. They claimed that they had to use this tactic because of the seriousness of the crime. Well, if it was so serious, the police had plenty of time to arrest her in her office where she was arrested last year. But instead, she was arrested while returning to the country from abroad. She is probably the fourth or fifth person to be arrested in this dramatic and needless manner. Second, this is probably another example of the increasing use of a double lese majeste-computer crimes charge.

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