Thai arrest warrant issued for American academic on royal insult charges

4/4/2025 16:46

A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for an American academic on charges of insulting the monarchy, a rare use of the country's "lese majeste" law against a foreigner, according to a document reviewed by Reuters on Friday.



The army filed the charges, including violations of the computer crimes act, against Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University, and the arrest warrant was issued on Monday, according to the document, a letter sent by police to the university informing it of the move.



Reuters verified its authenticity with a police source and Chambers' lawyer, Wannaphat Jenroumjit, from Thai Lawyers For Human Rights, who said Chambers would report to police in Phitsanulok, northern Thailand, on Tuesday.



The police source said the charges related to an article that Chambers posted online last year. Wannaphat said she did not know the reason for the charges.

Thai police declined to comment, and the U.S. embassy did not have any immediate comment. A spokesperson for the Thai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.