BANGKOK — Buddhist monk and former anti-government activist Buddha Issara has filed criminal charges against two men responsible for an anti-royal video.
Buddha Issara was accompanied by a dozen supporters when he met with police officers at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok today and urged them to take legal action against the men in the video.
In the video clip, posted on Youtube on 1 August, two unidentified men in suits say they are members of the "Thai Alliance for Human Rights" and read a statement with negative remarks about His Majesty the King. The video was blocked in Thailand as of Thursday.
Criticising the Royal Family is prohibited under 112 Article of the Thai Criminal Codes; those found guilty of lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) can face up to 15 years in prison.
"This action is an unacceptable insult toward the king," Buddha Issara said today. "I believe that Thais can't accept this. I want the police to investigate and find out who the two people in the video are."
The monk added that he would offer a 500,000 baht reward to anyone who has information about the two individuals. .
Pol.Lt. Chalit Maneeplao said the police have accepted Buddha Issara's complaint. The case will be forwarded to the Technology Crime Suppression Division for further investigation.
Buddha Issara was a prominent leader of the protest movement that sought to topple the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra starting last November. The campaign ended after the Thai army staged a coup on 22 May and dissolved what was left of Ms. Yingluck's government.
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