Thai police summoned a human rights activist for interrogation over an academic seminar involving discussion of the Thai monarchy.  

On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, a human rights activist known for her work with slum dwellers in Bangkok, told media that police officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani Province had summoned her for questioning over a seminar entitled ‘83 Years of Thailand’s Development after the 1932 Revolution of Siam’.

The seminar on post-absolute monarchy Thailand was held at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani on 22 June 2015. Participants were Sulak Sivaraksa, a well-known critic of Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, Olarn Chaiprawat, former advisor to ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Prateep, and other high profile academics.    

The summons was issued by the police on 26 June 2015, ordering her to report to Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station on 9 July. The summons mentioned that the seminar’s content involved references to the Thai King.     

According to Matichon Online, Prateep suspects that participants in the seminar might have filed a lèse majesté complaint against certain speakers at the event.  

She added that the complaint might be against Sulak Sivaraksa, a royalist who is known for his firm stand against the lèse majesté law.

Last year, Sulak was accused of defaming King Naresuan, an ancient king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom who reigned about 400 years ago, at the seminar on Thai history where he raised doubts about the historical battle between the ancient Thai king and a Burmese general.

Sulak told Prachatai in a video interview that Article 112 only protects the present monarch, the Queen and the Crown Prince.

The notorious lèse majesté law states "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, Heir-apparent or Regent shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years."