Lawyers for Lawyers (@L4L_INT), the Law Society of England and Wales (@TheLawSociety), and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (@IBAHRI) are deeply concerned by the continued criminal prosecution, violation of fair trial rights, and cumulative prison sentences imposed on lawyer Arnon Nampa. On July 16, the Chiang Mai Provincial Court of Appeal upheld yet another lèse-majesté conviction against Mr. Nampa, bringing his cumulative prison sentence to 31 years, 9 months, and 20 days.
“[T]he repeated prosecutions against Mr. Nampa, the cumulative sentences imposed, and the persistent refusal to grant bail raise serious concerns that criminal proceedings are being used to deter legitimate human rights advocacy and participation in public debate,” said the joint statement.
The organizations called on Thai authorities to ensure that Mr. Nampa’s appeal proceedings fully respect his due process and fair trial rights in line with both domestic law and international standards, and to guarantee his right to bail pending trial.