Thailand's monarchy is protected by a strict law that makes insulting the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison per offense. Critics charge it is often used as a political weapon by the government against adversaries, and the current military regime has frequently employed it. Somyot was also sentenced to a year in prison on charges of defaming an army general who helped lead the 2006 coup. He also said he wishes to address the hardships and rights violations that inmates face in Thai prisons, which he said he had documented behind bars. "If he is too provocative, it will be a risk that he must accept," Panithan said in a video posted on Facebook.

Source: ABC News April 30, 2018 12:27 UTC