Activist found not guilty of royal defamation over graduation ceremony three-finger salute
The Khon Kaen Provincial Court has dismissed a royal defamation charge filed against activist Songpol “Yajai” Sonthirak for flashing the three-finger salute at a graduation ceremony in December 2022.
Songpol was charged with royal defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act for flashing the three-finger “Hunger Games” salute, a well-known resistance symbol used by activists protesting the 2014 military coup and by students in the 2020 pro-democracy movement, after receiving his degree certificate from Princess Sirindhorn, King Vajiralongkorn’s younger sister, during Khon Kaen University’s graduation ceremony on 20 December 2022. He was also charged for an interview with The Isaan Record and another with a Khon Kaen University student activist group. He was indicted in November 2025.
Khon Kaen University reportedly paused its live broadcast of the graduation ceremony while Songpol and subsequent graduates from the Faculty of Law were receiving their certificates, and did not allow comments on the live broadcast after it resumed.
The complaint against him was filed by Kamon Kitkasiwat, leader of a royalist group in Khon Kaen, who was at the time an MP candidate for the royalist Thai Pakdee Party.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said today (10 November) that the Khon Kaen Provincial Court has dismissed the charge against Songpol. It ruled that, given his behaviour before the ceremony and that he is part of the same activist group as Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, flashing the three-finger salute in front of Princess Sirindhorn can be seen as anti-monarchy, but while it is disrespectful and an insult, it is not defamatory. The princess is also not covered by the royal defamation law, which only covers the King, the Queen, the heir to the throne, and the regent. The court noted that a criminal law should be strictly interpreted and cannot be expanded based on tradition, similar laws, or general legal principles. Expanding the royal defamation law to cover individuals appointed by the King to carry out royal duties on his behalf would mean people face a higher penalty and would be unfair.
Songpol’s lawyer previously petitioned the court to dismiss charges filed under the Computer Crimes Act as these charges are covered by the new Amnesty Act. However, the court dismissed the petition, ruling that his action during the graduation ceremony is a personal action and does not appear to be a political expression or a call for change.
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