In October 2020, five Thai men attended a peaceful, pro-democracy protest that delayed the Thai Queen\u2019s motorcade by six minutes. The five men\u2013activists Aekachai Hongkangwan, Francis Boonkueanun Paothong, and Suranat Panprasert, artist Mr. \u201cKeng,\u201d (name withheld), and Mr. \u201cKwan\u201d (name withheld)\u2013were unaware that the Queen\u2019s motorcade would come through the protest area, and they moved away from the road as soon as they realized a royal motorcade was passing. The men were later charged under Section 110 of Thailand\u2019s Criminal Code for attempting \u201can act of violence against the liberty of the Queen,\u201d which has a mandatory minimum sentence of 16 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Following a trial, in June 2023 the Ratchada Criminal Court acquitted all five men, finding that they lacked the intent to obstruct the motorcade. However, on September 5, 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal, convicted the five men, and sentenced four men to 16 years\u2019 imprisonment and Mr. Hongkangwan to 21 years and four months in prison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since September 2025, the five men have been detained in overcrowded conditions, denied access to timely medical care, and Thailand\u2019s Supreme Court has repeatedly denied their bail requests. They are currently appealing their convictions before the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Why is This a Key Case?<\/p>\n
This case illustrates Thailand\u2019s use of severe criminal provisions to punish and deter peaceful protest and marks the first application of Section 110 of the Criminal Code to criminalize acts of peaceful assembly and expression during the 2020\u20132021 pro-democracy movement. In response to widespread youth-led protests in 2020-2021 that called for reforms to the government and monarchy, Thai authorities have relied on a range of criminal provisions to crackdown on dissenting voices, including l\u00e8se-majest\u00e9 (Section 112), sedition (Section 116), and public order-related offenses. The use of Section 110, which criminalizes acts of violence against the Queen or her liberty, to convict peaceful protesters is particularly draconian as it mandates 16 years to life imprisonment. The broader pattern of criminalization further creates a chilling effect on peaceful assembly and political expression in Thailand, including advocacy for public-institution reform.<\/p>\n
How is the Kennedy Human Rights Center Supporting the Petitioners?<\/p>\n