Latest King Maha Vajiralongkorn News

Former leader of the dissolved Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit speaks during a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Thanathorn was charged with defaming Thailand’s monarchy by questioning the government’s procurement of COVID-19 vaccines is standing by his comments and saying the nation deserves more transparency. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Ousted Thai politician defends vaccine procurement criticism

Jan. 21, 2021 7:11 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — A popular ousted politician charged with defaming Thailand’s monarchy for questioning the government’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement stood by his comments Thursday and said the nation deserves more transparency. The government filed charges on Wednesday accusing Thanathorn...

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2020, file photo, Thailand's Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit gestures as he talks to media during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai officials on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, filed criminal charges against Thanathorn, accusing him of defaming the monarchy by broadcasting his criticisms of the government's efforts to secure supplies of coronavirus vaccine. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

Popular Thai politician charged with defaming monarchy

Jan. 20, 2021 4:56 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai officials on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a popular former politician, accusing him of defaming the monarchy by broadcasting criticism of government efforts to secure supplies of coronavirus vaccines. The action against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit came just a day after...

Pro-democracy protest fund-raiser Inthira Charoenpura speaks from a makeshift stage outside Bang Khen Metropolitan Police Station, Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Several leaders of protest movement report to the police station to answer the charges of defaming the Thai monarchy, the most serious of many offenses of which they stand accused during recent pro-democracy rallies. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Thai actress aiding protests charged with insulting monarchy

Dec. 21, 2020 3:20 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — A well-known actress who is one of the most high-profile supporters of Thailand’s pro-democracy protest movement answered a police summons Monday charging her with violating the country’s harsh law against defaming the monarchy, even though she is not known to have spoken...

A Thai policeman walks between protesters and police lines facing each other during a pro-democracy rally Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Despite legal charges being filed against the leaders, pro-democracy demonstrators continue their protests calling for the government to step down and reforms to the constitution and the monarchy. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Thai activists urge UN to help repeal royal defamation laws

Dec. 10, 2020 4:26 AM EST

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Pro-democracy demonstrators in Bangkok marked United Nations Human Rights Day on Thursday with rallies calling for the abolition of Thailand’s strict royal defamation law, which was recently revived to prosecute more than 20 of the protest movement’s leaders. Somyot...

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn greets supporters as he walks to participate in a candle lighting ceremony to mark the anniversary of the birth of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. Thousands of yellow-clad supporters greeted Thailand's king in Bangkok on Saturday as he led a birthday commemoration for his revered late father, the latest in a series of public appearances at a time of unprecedented challenge to the monarchy from student-led protestors.(AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Thai king leads thousands to remember late father's birthday

Dec. 5, 2020 11:37 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Thousands of yellow-clad supporters greeted Thailand’s king on Saturday as he led a birthday commemoration for his revered late father, the latest in a series of public appearances at a time of unprecedented challenge to the monarchy from student-led protesters. King Maha...

A pro-democracy activist, Parit Chiwarak, raises a three-fingers salute, a symbol of resistance at Chana SongKhram police station in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. The leaders of the pro-democracy protests reported themselves to the police for the additional charge of violating the lese majeste laws at Chanasongkram Police Station on Monday afternoon. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai protest leaders hear police charges of defaming king

Nov. 30, 2020 4:36 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Five leaders of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement reported to police Monday to acknowledge charges that they defamed the king, the most serious of many offenses of which they stand accused. The five are part of the student-led movement that for several months has been campaigning for...

Protesters carry inflatable yellow ducks, which have become good-humored symbols of resistance during anti-government rallies, while marching towards the base of the 11th Infantry Regiment,a palace security unit under direct command of the Thai king, Sunday,Nov. 29, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Pro-democracy demonstrators are continuing their protests calling for the government to step down and reforms to the constitution and the monarchy, despite legal charges being filed against them and the possibility of violence from their opponents or a military crackdown. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai pro-democracy protesters rally outside army base

Nov. 29, 2020 8:06 PM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s indefatigable pro-democracy activists took to Bangkok's streets again Sunday, this time to protest the army as they push forward with their campaign for sweeping reforms, including to the nation's monarchy. Around 800 protesters marched to the base of the 11th Infantry...

Protesters flash LED lights from their mobile phones during a rally Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Pro-democracy demonstrators are continuing their protests calling for the government to step down and reforms to the constitution and the monarchy, despite legal charges being filed against them and the possibility of violence from their opponents or a military crackdown. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

Thailand's pro-democracy protesters warn of possible coup

Nov. 27, 2020 8:00 PM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand, undeterred by arrest warrants and the possibility of violent attacks, held another rally on Friday, poking fun at their critics and warning of the possibility of a military coup. The potential for violence was illustrated after their last rally on...

Inflatable yellow ducks, which have become a good-humored symbol of resistance during anti-government rallies, are held by a protester during a rally Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand on Wednesday again took to the streets of the capital, even as the government escalated its legal battle against them, reviving the use of a harsh law against defaming the monarchy. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

Thai protesters push on despite charges of royal defamation

Nov. 25, 2020 12:17 PM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand took to the streets of the capital again on Wednesday as the government escalated its legal battle against them, reviving the use of a harsh law against defaming the monarchy. Their rally was peaceful, but less than two hours after it was declared over...

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