American Academic Faces Rare Thai Royal Insult Charges

Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University, has been summoned to acknowledge lese-majeste charges filed by the Thai Army over comments made during a 2024 webinar.

• Paul Chambers, an American academic, is accused of insulting the monarchy under Thailand's strict lese-majeste law, which carries penalties of up to 15 years per offense.
• The charges were filed by the Thai Army and include alleged violations of the computer crimes act, stemming from remarks made in a webinar discussing the monarchy-military relationship.
• An arrest warrant was issued on March 31, 2025, and Chambers has been summoned to a police station in Phitsanulok on April 8 to formally acknowledge the charges.
• Human rights groups and academics have criticized the case, calling it an attack on academic freedom and warning of its chilling effect on international research in Thailand.
• The lese-majeste law has been increasingly enforced since 2020, with 278 individuals charged, including activists, students, and now a rare case involving a foreign national.

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