On April 8, a Thai court denied bail to U.S. academic Paul Chambers, who now remains in pretrial detention following charges of royal defamation and online offenses. The case, filed by the Thai military, stems from comments linked to a 2024 webinar and highlights rising tensions over academic freedom and speech laws in Thailand.
Paul Chambers, a lecturer in political science at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, was taken into custody after voluntarily presenting himself to police in Phitsanulok province. Authorities charged him under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code—known as the lese-majeste law—and the Computer Crime Act, which governs online activity.
Chambers appeared in Phitsanulok Provincial Court on April 8 for a pretrial detention hearing. The court granted the police request for detention and denied both the initial and a follow-up application for bail, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). His legal team is preparing a third bail request to be submitted to an appeals court. No trial date has yet been set.
The charges originate from a complaint filed by Thailand’s Third Army Region. According to TLHR, the case involves content related to a webinar held in late 2024 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), where Chambers allegedly commented on military restructuring in Thailand. Chambers has denied authoring or publishing the online content in question.
Scholars at Risk, a U.S.-based academic freedom group, stated that authorities should refrain from legal actions aimed at suppressing scholarly expression. The organization said the response to Chambers’ webinar comments signals a broader trend of retaliatory measures against academic analysis of state institutions.
Thailand’s lese-majeste law, which penalizes defamation or insult of the monarchy with prison terms of three to fifteen years, is considered one of the strictest such laws globally. While rarely used in the past, prosecutions under the law have risen significantly since student-led pro-democracy demonstrations began in 2020.
According to TLHR, more than 270 people have been charged under Section 112 since early 2020, many of them young activists. Critics argue that the law is often applied to suppress dissent and protect entrenched power structures, particularly the military and monarchy.
Chambers, who holds a doctorate in political science from Northern Illinois University, is known for his work on civil-military relations in Southeast Asia. His scholarship includes titles such as Khaki Capital and Praetorian Kingdom, both of which explore the role of armed forces in regional governance. He has lived in Thailand since 1993.
The Thai military has played a prominent role in national politics, staging 13 successful coups since the 1932 transition to constitutional monarchy. Analysts note that Chambers’ academic focus has long examined this dynamic, which may have drawn heightened scrutiny from conservative elements.
The U.S. State Department has offered consular assistance and expressed concern over the detention, reaffirming support for freedom of expression as part of Thailand’s international commitments. Legal and diplomatic observers say the case could have implications for foreign scholars working in the country.
Chambers was accompanied to the police station by his wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat, dean of Naresuan University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, legal counsel, and representatives from the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai.