53 Facts About Arnon Nampa

Arnon Nampa is a Thai lawyer and activist known for his critical stance on the Thai monarchy, a highly controversial topic in the country.

In 2020, Arnon Nampa was detained without trial for 24 days.

On January 17,2024, Arnon Nampa was sentenced to four years in prison for lese-majeste related to his 2021 social media activities.

Arnon Nampa was born on August 18,1984, in Thung Khao Luang, a village previously part of Thawat Buri, Roi Et Province, Thailand.

Arnon Nampa was known for his rebellious activities, including posting critical poems and flyers around the school, and organizing student protests against changes to the school schedule that would adversely affect rural students' commutes.

Arnon Nampa achieved first place in a regional law-related student competition.

Arnon Nampa became involved in the 'black shirt' protests led by Giles Ji Ungpakorn.

Arnon Nampa achieved his first legal victory in the Military courts of Thailand, representing a fellow conscripted colleague.

In 2007, Arnon Nampa began an internship at the EnLAW Thai Foundation, under the guidance of Surachai Trongngam.

Arnon Nampa's internship concluded in 2008, and he subsequently embarked on his legal career independently.

Arnon Nampa received a barrister degree from the Thai Bar Association in 2009.

Arnon Nampa's adept handling of court cases during the political crisis following the coup earned him recognition as the 'Red Shirts Lawyer'.

Arnon Nampa took on significant lese-majeste cases involving red-shirt activists, including those of Chotisak Onsoong and Suwicha Thakor, as the political tensions escalated.

In 2011, Arnon Nampa established a pro bono law firm called 'Ratsadornprasong Law Office' with two other attorneys.

Arnon Nampa then worked as a freelance lawyer, taking cases from TLHR.

Arnon Nampa subsequently pursued a career as a human rights lawyer, defending notable activists such as Aekachai Hongkangwan and Phai Dao-din.

Arnon Nampa co-founded the Resistant Citizen group in January 2015 after he organized many experimental protests and the 'Coup Down People Rise 2015' party, a symbolic event at the Democracy Monument on December 31,2014.

Arnon Nampa was bailed out after being detained one night at the Phayathai police station.

Arnon Nampa was charged under computer crime laws for Facebook messages he posted.

Arnon Nampa's group organized another event in March 2015, 'I Walk Therefore, I Am'.

Arnon Nampa was arrested a second time in 2015 on the train traveling from Bangkok Noi to Rajabhakti Park, led by Siravich of the Democracy Studies Group.

Arnon Nampa was detained in Bangkok Remand Prison on April 25,2016, by the court prosecution of a military judge advocate, Col.

Arnon Nampa said that the court had no right to order that.

Arnon Nampa denied all charges and said that it was politically motivated against exercising rights to freedom of expression.

Arnon Nampa explained it was contrary to Article 172 of the Constitution because it is not an urgent matter and it is an extension of the military power of the monarchy that would break the democratic system, which normally military power should be under the cabinet executive to be able to be checked and balanced by the National Assembly of Thailand and the Judiciary of Thailand.

Arnon Nampa filed a letter to Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, demanding to explain and investigate the monarchy budget, and urged to distribute a fraction of it to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Arnon Nampa reminded protesters to support prisoners convicted under the lese-majeste law, and Tiwagorn Withiton who posted a picture of himself wearing the viral "I lost faith in the monarchy" t-shirt, was then forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Arnon Nampa called for the dissolution of parliament because of an unfair election and the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, for officials to stop threatening citizens, and drafting a new constitution that appoints 250 junta senators to vote for himself to be prime minister.

Arnon Nampa stressed that he wanted to reform the constitutional monarchy, not overthrow it, and focused on the asset transfer from the Crown Property Bureau to the personal belongings of the King.

Arnon Nampa questioned the King's decision to transfer two military units to his command, which was not a democratic, constitutional monarchy.

Arnon Nampa accused King Maha Vajiralongkorn of creating unprecedented changes in the constitution.

Arnon Nampa told the media that he spoke candidly, to honor his integrity, the integrity of the audience, and out of respect for the monarchy.

Arnon Nampa said in an interview later that the students wanted to do this before, but they asked him to start the movement.

Arnon Nampa told me that a reaction from the protesters and the police were thrilled, silent, and worried about him.

In front of more than 1,000 protesters, Arnon Nampa repeatedly gave out a monarchy reform speech again.

Arnon Nampa spent a night at Chanasongkram Police Station and was released on bail in the morning.

Arnon Nampa has been regarded as one of the leaders since then.

Arnon Nampa led a mass on the truck to the Democracy Monument.

Arnon Nampa had believed in Thai judicial systems before, so he decided to study law.

Arnon Nampa believes that someday the court will rethink it and get back to standing with Thai society.

Arnon Nampa was then taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison.

Arnon Nampa received a summons for lese-majeste in addition to other charges.

Arnon Nampa stated that he would take a break during the New Year's holidays and will continue the rally in 2021 with more escalation.

On January 14,2021, Arnon Nampa was recognized by South Korea's May 18 Memorial Foundation for winning the 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights for his human rights legal contribution, anti-authoritarian activism, and his call for the monarchy reform.

Arnon Nampa is the third person from Thailand after Angkhana Neelaphaijit and Pai Dao Din.

Arnon Nampa's lawyers tried to appeal on many occasions, but all were denied for the same reason by the court.

Arnon Nampa was prosecuted in 21 cases, 11 of lese-majeste cases.

Arnon Nampa found it suspicious, and there were rumours that they will be sent to hurt or kill.

Arnon Nampa was immediately treated in hospital after he had infected the coronavirus.

On November 10,2020, the Constitutional Court ruled that Arnon Nampa's speech, calling for reforms of the monarchy in the 'Thammasat will not tolerate' rally on August 10,2020, aimed to overthrow the state and the monarchy in their speeches.

The court ordered him and other protest groups to end all monarchy reform movements, as Arnon Nampa never had a chance to prove the wrongdoing in court because he had been in the jail.

On February 28,2022, Arnon Nampa received bail from all courts after he had been detained for 203 days.

Arnon Nampa performed Khlui in Thai activist band Faiyen's 'Farmer' song.