American academic Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in Thailand, was arrested on lèse-majesté charges and briefly jailed. His visa was revoked, and his lawyers fear deportation.
The charges relate to a brief online description of a webinar about Thailand's military and police. The description, which Chambers did not write, allegedly contained wording deemed defamatory to the Thai king.
Initially denied bail, Chambers was later released on bail of 300,000 baht (~$8,800). His lawyers are appealing the visa revocation and argue he did not author the offending text and poses no flight risk due to his three-decade residency in Thailand.
Chambers' lawyers express concern over the potential for deportation. Thailand's lèse-majesté laws are notoriously strict, carrying harsh penalties. The ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, which hosted the webinar, expressed concern over the arrest and valued Chambers' contributions.
Chambers is restricted from leaving Thailand without court approval and must report to the immigration bureau monthly.