BANGKOK — Paul Chambers, a 58-year-old American political science lecturer at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, Thailand, was arrested Tuesday on charges of insulting the monarchy under the country’s stringent lèse-majesté laws and violating the Computer Crimes Act.
Chambers, who has lived in Thailand since 1993, specializes in civil-military relations and democratization in Southeast Asia. The charges stem from a promotional blurb for an October 2024 webinar titled “Thailand’s 2024 Military and Police Reshuffles: What Do They Mean?” posted on the website of Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. The Thai army alleges that the content defamed the monarchy by suggesting royal involvement in military appointments. ​
Chambers’ wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Naresuan University, expressed concern over the legitimacy of the arrest, noting that no summons had been issued before the warrant. She suggested that Chambers’s academic work on military affairs may have displeased the military and prompted the action.
The U.S. Department of State has expressed alarm over Chambers’ arrest Tuesday. “We are alarmed by the arrest of U.S. citizen Paul Chambers,” said Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement. “We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression.” ​
Chambers was denied bail by the Phitsanulok Provincial Court due to the severity of the charges and his status as a foreigner. His legal team plans to appeal the decision, citing his medical condition and willingness to comply with court conditions. ​
Human rights organizations have criticized the charges, viewing them as a threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand. “The baseless prosecution of Paul Chambers poses a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech in Thailand,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
​According to Human Rights Watch, Thailand’s lèse-majesté law is among the world’s harshest, with convictions carrying sentences of up to 15 years per offense. Since 2020, at least 277 individuals have been charged under these laws, though prosecutions of foreign nationals remain rare. ​
