A Thai man was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday for selling calendars containing satirical cartoons of yellow geese that the court said mocked the country’s monarch, legal aid group reported.
A Bangkok criminal court ruled that a 2021 calendar featuring pictures of yellow geese in poses resembled and made fun of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, tarnishing his popularity, the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said.
Yellow rubber geese used to be a playful symbol of Thailand’s pro-democracy protest movement.
Narathorn Chotmankongsin was charged under Thailand’s lese-majesty law, which provides a prison sentence of three to fifteen years for anyone defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, crown prince or regent.
The court ruled that the six illustrations in the calendar were created to mock the king.
The legal aid group said the sentence of the 26-year-old defendant, who was identified by the alias Ton Mai, was reduced to two years because he cooperated with the court.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Wednesday asking the Thai authorities to “put aside the sentence and release Narathorn Chotmankongsin immediately.”
“The prosecution and three-year sentence of a man for selling satirical calendars shows that the Thai authorities are actually trying to punish any actions they deem an affront to the monarchy,” said Elaine Pearson, director of Asia at Human Rights Watch. “This case sends a message to all Thais and the remainder of the world that Thailand is moving away – not closer – to becoming a democracy that respects the laws.”
The Lése-Majesty Act has long been criticized for its harshness and the provision allowing anyone to file a criticism, allowing it to be used for particular political purposes. In recent times, it has change into the subject of interest of pro-democratic activists who demanded its amendment or abolition.
Two young activists demanding repeal of the law and other judicial reforms are reportedly in critical condition after greater than six weeks of hunger strike.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, as of November 2020, at the least 233 people have been charged with lese majesty. Previously, prosecutions had been informally suspended, but were resumed as the protest movement grew stronger and criticized the monarchy more harshly.
Demands for reforming the monarchy were controversial as traditionally the institution was considered untouchable and considered one of the principal foundations of Thai nationalism.