Suggestion for Dismissing Royal-Insult Charge Against American Scholar

Fresh Take:

Thai prosecutors have decided to drop charges of lese-majeste and computer crime against American scholar Paul Chambers, according to a statement from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) on May 1, 2025.

The spokesperson for the OAG, Sakkasem Nisaiyok, stated that prosecutors from Region 6, which covers Phitsanulok province, made the decision after reviewing the case file from Muang district police station. They will now submit a request to the Phitsanulok Provincial Court to dismiss the case against Chambers, with a copy to Provincial Police Region 6 commander.

The announcement comes at a time of heightened US-Thai relations, sparking unconfirmed speculation that the case might have been a factor in the postponement of negotiations on the 36% tariffs that Washington seeks to impose on Thai imports. However, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has denied any connection between the two events, attributing the timing to mere coincidence.

The complaint against Chambers apparently centered around a notice for an academic webinar organized by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. The notice featured Chambers, a noted expert on the topic, as a speaker. Chambers stated that he did neither write nor publish the content, which has since been removed from the Institute's website.

Chambers, a professor and advisor on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, was charged on April 8, a week after the Third Army Region and Isoc filed a complaint with local police. Lese-majeste, punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison, is a rare charge for foreigners. Computer crime charges are often added alongside lese-majeste charges, further extending sentences.

Following his arrest, Chambers spent a night in detention before being granted bail, subject to an electronic monitoring device. He was also deprived of his passport and visa by the Immigration Bureau after being charged. However, officials said any decision on deportation would be deferred until after the court proceedings.

Chambers' family in Oklahomacampaigned for his release, seeking support from congressmen, senators, and the US State Department. Kit Chambers penned an opinion piece in a local newspaper, urging trade talks between the U.S. and Thailand to be delayed until Chambers’ release. The American Political Science Association also issued a statement, urging the Thai government to uphold academic freedom.

A well-regarded scholar in academic circles, Chambers is known for his commentary on civil-military relations and democracy in Asia, with a particular focus on Thailand. He has been living in Thailand since 1993 and has authored several books, including "Khaki Capital: The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia," and "Praetorian Kingdom: A History of Military Ascendancy in Thailand."

There has been speculation, albeit unconfirmed, whether the dismissal of charges against Paul Chambers was influenced by the pending negotiations on 36% tariffs between the US and Thailand, but the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) denies any connection.
The decision to drop the lese-majeste and computer crime charges against Paul Chambers, a professor at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, has been met with relief from the general public and politics enthusiasts, as well as the academic community who urge Thailand to uphold academic freedom.
As the Thai prosecutors investigate and decide to dismiss the case against Paul Chambers, the focus shifts towards policy-and-legislation and crime-and-justice, raising questions about the application and fairness of laws, particularly in cases involving foreigners.
The dismissal of charges against Paul Chambers, removes a barrier from continued academic collaboration between US and Thai institutions, allowing for an uninterrupted exchange of ideas, research, and innovation in the field of policy, politics, and general news, as was initially intended at the academic webinar he was meant to participate in.