US ‘alarmed’ after American academic charged with insulting monarchy in Thailand

American academic Paul Chambers is currently in custody in Thailand for allegedly insulting the country’s monarchy, a crime punishable by years in prison in the Southeast Asian country.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a Tuesday statement that the U.S. is “alarmed” and “closely monitoring the situation.” 

“This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lèse majesté laws in Thailand. We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression. As a treaty ally of Thailand, we will closely monitor this issue and advocate for the fair treatment of Paul Chambers,” Bruce said.

Chambers, a 58-year-old native of Oklahoma, is a lecturer at Naresuan University in the province of Phitsanulok and could face up to 15 years in prison under these charges. 

One of his attorneys, Wannaphat Jenroumjit, told CNN a warrant for Chamber’s arrest was issued last week and he appeared in court on Tuesday.  

“He was accused of publishing a blurb on (Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies’) website in connection with an ISEAS webinar in October 2024 about military reshuffles,” said Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, an attorney for Chambers and an advocacy lead for Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, according to CNN. 

“He denied all charges. He neither wrote nor published the blurb on the website,” Akarachai added. 

Last year, a court in Thailand ordered a man to serve an extended sentence for insulting the monarch of up to 50 years.