Urgent warning about little known law for Aussies Planning a trip to Thailand

Aussies are warned of a law that is considered one of the strictest in the world to punish both the locals and foreigners to criticize the Thai Royal family.

The American academic Dr. Paul Chambers was imprisoned, seized his passport and lost both his visa and his job at Naresuan University after he was arrested via a webinar entitled ‘Thailand‘S 2024 Military Rescuffles: what do they mean?’

Dr. Chambers was sued in April for violating the Lesene Majeste -law of Thailand that is a prison sentence of three and fifteen years.

The professor may not leave the Southeast Asian country on the basis of Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code despite not writing or publishing the webinar.

The teacher was described at the university as a visiting fellow who would present the webinar in June, after it was first published by academics in Singapore.

“He is not allowed to leave the country, we don’t know exactly why,” his brother Kit Chambers told Reuters.

Dr. Chambers is considered an expert in the relationship between the army and citizens in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia.

In 2024 was a Thai man sentenced to 50 years in prison in several sentences for different comments he made about the royal family.

Aussies are warned of a law that is considered one of the strictest in the world to punish both the locals and foreigners of criticizing the Thai royal family (shares)

Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (left) and Thai Queen Suthida are depicted

The number of people accused of breaking the Lesene Majeste laws is increasing by at least 272 in recent years.

The Constitution of Thailand places the king in a position of ‘respected worship’ with the palace that is considered holy – or too valuable to be disturbed.

Maha Vajiralongkorn has been ruling since 2016 as the king of Thailand and is the tenth monarch leading the country of the Chakri Dynasty.

He has become known for his luxury lifestyle and $ 43 million fortune, as well as his ‘hands-on’ approach to rule in hard contrast with his father who ruled for 70 years.

King Vajiralongkorn, who married his fourth wife Suthida Bajrasudhabimalakhana in 2019, reportedly possesses 38 aircraft, 300 luxury vehicles and 50 boats.

Aussies has been told to pay attention to the travel warning before he flies to Thailand.

“Insulting the monarchy, or images of the monarchy – including on a banknote with the king’s image – can lead to the prison conditions of up to 15 years,” says a notification on Smarttraveller.gov.au.

Posts on social media that criticize the royal family can also land the estimated 800,000 Aussies that fly to Thailand in warm water every year.