BANGKOK, Thailand – A Thai court on Thursday dismissed a royal defamation case against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Founder of the Progressive Movement, over a 2021 live-streamed video criticizing the government’s procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. The Criminal Court ruled that Thanathorn’s remarks focused on government administration and did not constitute an insult or threat to the monarchy. The case stemmed from a January 2021 Facebook live-stream titled “Royal Vaccine: Who Wins, Who Loses?,” in which prosecutors argued that Thanathorn distorted information regarding the involvement of Siam Bioscience in vaccine production, thereby affecting the monarchy.
The company, established in 2009 under the initiative of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), had secured a technology-transfer agreement to manufacture the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine locally. Thanathorn had denied the charges, which included violating the country’s strict lese-majeste law and the Computer Crime Act. Following the ruling, Thanathorn expressed relief and urged the public to consider the situation of other political detainees facing similar charges, stating they are individuals with differing opinions rather than criminals. He added that he was not concerned about a potential appeal by state prosecutors. (TNA)
