Thread: Not only have Thai authorities begun to file new lese majeste cases, but they also seem to have been ordered to clear a backlog of historical cases, which were put in limbo after the king instructed the law not to be used anymore. /1 #SaveIssaret #ยกเลิก112

The revival of old cases includes that of 64-year old Anchan Preelert, who was today sentenced to a shocking 43.5 years in jail for a case that has been in limbo since 2015. There are more, including one in particular I'd like to shine a light on. /2 #SaveIssaret #ยกเลิก112

Mr. Issaret, age 45, was re-arrested in September 2020, for an old lese majeste case dating back to 2016. He thinks he may be the first person to have been arrested for lese majeste charges in the "new wave", since the 2 or 3 year suspension of its use. /3 #SaveIssaret #ยกเลิก112

His case stems from a facebook post he made after the death of King Bhumipol in 2016, which queried why there was a delay in Rama X ascending the throne, and speculated it might have something to do with a succession struggle at that time. /4 #SaveIssaret https://tlhr2014.com/archives/24029?fbclid=IwAR1QsSzl5-vN4HIkNinz-NVV0VURXyTtQUAJwbmCYz8YfLgMfJ6HQCm17_c

He is a working class labourer (กรรมกร) and worries that, due to not being in the spotlight in the same way the student activists who also face charges are, he is more likely to be jailed, perhaps for a very long time. /5 #SaveIssaret #ยกเลิก112

Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to help him, but it seems worth publicising his case nontheless. And better to do it before his trial, rather than after it, when his fate is already sealed. /End #SaveIssaret #ยกเลิก112