Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra indicted for royal defamation by prosecutors

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand will be charged for insulting the monarchy. This law, called lese majeste, can lead to three to 15 years in prison. People find this law controversial because they think it's too harsh and used to punish those who criticize the government. Thaksin's critics accused him of disrespecting King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away in 2016. This led to debates about the monarchy's role, especially when student-led protests for more democracy happened in 2020. Thaksin was released from prison due to health reasons and his sentence was reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. However, the attorney general's office reopened an investigation into Thaksin's alleged insult to the monarch almost nine years ago. Thaksin was first charged in 2016 for comments he made in Seoul, South Korea. The investigation resumed when he was presented with the charge in the hospital in January. Since his release, Thaksin has been active in public and is believed to have influence in the current government. He has been traveling the country, appearing in public, and reportedly trying to help with peace talks in Myanmar. Some experts think the new charges against Thaksin are meant to restrict his actions and remind him of his boundaries. Recently, the lese majeste law gained attention when activist Netiporn "Bung" Sanesangkhom died in prison after a hunger strike.