Thailand revives law banning criticism of king in bid to curb protests

Some protesters use a three-fingered salute - a gesture taken from the Hunger Games film franchise

Thailand has revived a controversial law against criticising the royal family in an attempt to curb months of anti-government protests.

Several activists have been summoned to face charges under the lèse-majesté law, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each count.

It is the first time in over two years that such charges have been filed.

Thailand has been rocked by student-led protests for months, with demonstrators demanding changes to the monarchy.

Protesters are also calling for constitutional reforms and the removal of the country's prime minister.

• How pro-democracy movement gained momentum

• Risking it all to challenge the monarchy

• Profile: Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn

On Tuesday, a prominent student activist, 22-year-old Parit Chiwarak, said he had received a summons for lèse-majesté - among other charges - but that he was "not afraid".

"The ceiling has been broken. Nothing can contain us anymore," he tweeted, along with a photo of the summons.

At least six other key protest leaders, including human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, are expected to face the same charges, according to reports.

'Secret trials and draconian sentences'

The most feared law in Thailand is back in use, after a three-year break, reportedly ordered by King Vajiralongkorn.

Its revival follows increasingly outspoken criticism of the king by protesters, in chants, on stage, and in what for many Thais is shockingly vulgar graffiti. This is something very new in Thailand. Even in previous episodes of political unrest few dared to attack the monarchy. But this generation of activists insists that the spending and power of the king must be challenged.

They will now face a law which allows secret trials, and puts huge pressure on defendants to admit guilt to reduce the often draconian prison sentences. But it may prove less effective in suppressing anti-monarchy sentiment than in the past, now that scandalous reports about the royal family are circulated instantly on social media.

Its use may even be counterproductive, costing the Thai monarchy sympathy while it is engaged in a campaign to shore up support for the institution.

Thailand's lèse-majesté law, which forbids any insult to the monarchy, is among the strictest in the world.

The reintroduction of charges under the lèse-majesté law comes ahead of a planned demonstration on Wednesday at the Crown Property Bureau, an institution that controls the royal fortune on behalf of the monarchy, located in the capital, Bangkok.

This latest development follows increasingly outspoken criticism of the king by protesters.

King Vajiralongkorn has been criticised for spending much of his time in Germany.

Protests have included demands to curb recently expanded powers to the monarchy and have challenged the king's decision to declare Crown wealth as his personal property, making him by far the wealthiest person in Thailand. It had until now been notionally held in trust for the benefit of the people.

There have also been questions over King Vajiralongkorn's decision to take personal command of all military units based in Bangkok - a concentration of military power in royal hands unprecedented in modern Thailand.

Last week, at least 41 people were injured after clashes between protesters and police in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Protesters were attempting to reach parliament, where lawmakers were debating possible changes to the constitution.

They hurled smoke bombs and bags of paint at police, who retaliated with water cannon and tear-gas solution.

Why are there protests in Thailand?

Thailand has a long history of political unrest and protest, but a new wave began in February after a court ordered a fledgling pro-democracy opposition party to dissolve.

Protests were re-energised in June when prominent pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit went missing in Cambodia, where he had been in exile since the 2014 military coup. There were reports that he had been grabbed off the street and bundled off into a vehicle.

Protesters accused the Thai state of orchestrating his kidnapping - a charge police and government officials have denied.

But things really kicked off when protesters began questioning the powers of the monarchy.

The move sent shockwaves through a country where people are taught from birth to revere and love the monarchy and fear the consequences of talking about it.

The definition of what constitutes an insult to the monarchy in Thailand is unclear and human rights groups say the lèse-majesté law has often been used as a political tool to curb free speech and resist opposition calls for reform and change.

Royalists have come out to oppose the student-led demonstrations - and say the protesters want the abolition of the monarchy, something they deny.