Thailand's political amnesty takes effect, excludes lese majeste cases

A political amnesty covering offences committed in Thailand over the past two decades took effect on Monday, but excludes some of the most serious cases, including offences under the country’s lese majeste law protecting the monarchy.

The amnesty was introduced as part of efforts to promote reconciliation following years of political instability, violent protests and military coups. Parliamentary estimates suggest about 6,000 people could benefit from the measure.

However, the exclusion of lese majeste offences has drawn criticism that the amnesty will do little to resolve Thailand’s deep political divisions.

The Peaceful Society Promotion Act passed its final vote in Parliament in July and was published in the Royal Gazette on Sunday. A committee chaired by the prime minister will determine who qualifies for the amnesty. The committee must hold its first meeting within 30 days, although it remains unclear how long the process will take.

The law covers a range of offences linked to political activities committed between Jan. 1, 2005 and July 15, 2025. It will release eligible prisoners, halt investigations and prosecutions, dismiss pending court cases and clear the criminal records of those covered by the amnesty.

Besides lese majeste, the law excludes corruption offences and crimes that resulted in death or serious injury.

The lese majeste provision, known as Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, is controversial because it has been used to prosecute people over acts including social media activity. Anyone can file a complaint under the law, and defendants are often detained during lengthy legal proceedings.

A conviction for defaming the monarchy carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Critics say Article 112 has frequently been used to suppress political dissent.

Student-led pro-democracy demonstrations that began in 2020 called for reforms to the lese majeste law, but many protesters themselves became targets of it.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights says more than 290 people, many of them student activists, have been charged under Article 112 since early 2020.

As of July, the group said at least 54 people remained imprisoned in connection with political cases. Only about 10 were expected to benefit from the new amnesty, as the others were accused of lese majeste offences.

Thailand’s political establishment remains deeply conservative and highly sensitive to perceived threats to the monarchy.

The country’s political conflicts have also been shaped by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.

His populist policies won strong support among poorer voters, particularly in northern and northeastern Thailand, while his popularity and often combative political style deepened divisions between his supporters and the country’s urban elites, royalists and military establishment.

Violent protests and political upheaval repeatedly followed as parties aligned with Thaksin returned to power while he remained in self-imposed exile.