The Lower House’s Committee on Armed Forces will request that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) investigate the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 3 for wrongful exercise of authority concerning a lese-majesté complaint filed against Paul Chambers, an American academic at Naresuan University, according to Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, the committee’s chair and a People's Party list-MP.
Weak Accusation
The complaint was filed by the Commander of the 3rd Army Region, who also serves as Director of ISOC Region 3. Wiroj explained that the lese-majesté complaint was based on a social media post by the user "Eddy Assadang," believed to be managed by Assadang Yomnark, a so-called independent academic.
The post accused Naresuan University of hiring a foreign national to undermine the monarchy. This accusation was based on a personal interpretation of a promotional blurb for an academic webinar organized by the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, titled "Thailand’s 2024 Military and Police Reshuffles: What Do They Mean?"
The blurb, posted online by the institute, listed Chambers as a speaker. Chambers stated he neither wrote nor published the text. Wiroj noted that neither ISOC Region 3 nor the Muang Phitsanulok Police Station have verified whether the translated content is accurate or biased. Wiroj emphasized that Chambers neither owns the institute's website nor serves as its editor, and had not even delivered the talk when the blurb was published. Additionally, the use of the third-person pronoun “He” instead of “I” clearly indicates that the words were not authored by Chambers.
If Chambers had been the author, the first-person pronoun “I” would have been used. This raises the possibility that the Commander of the 3rd Army Region and the Superintendent of Muang Phitsanulok Police Station may have limited proficiency in English, especially in understanding the basic use of pronouns, which is essential in sentence construction.
Wrongful Exercise of Authority
In filing the complaint, ISOC cited its authority under Section 7(1) of the 2008 Internal Security Act, which grants the power to monitor, assess, and evaluate trends that may affect national security, and to report such matters to the Cabinet for further action. However, there is no indication that ISOC Region 3 submitted any report to the Cabinet or that a Cabinet resolution was issued to authorize the complaint against Chambers. Even if Sections 5 and 8, regarding delegated authority, are invoked, reporting and Cabinet approval would still be required. This suggests the complaint may have been filed without legal authority. Even if some internal regulation was cited, the action could still be inconsistent with the Internal Security Act. Furthermore, ISOC’s invocation of the 2008 Ministry of Defence Reorganization Act during the meeting indicates a misunderstanding, as ISOC operates under the Office of the Prime Minister, not the Ministry of Defence.
Using powers under that law would encroach on the authority of the Defence Minister and the armed forces' top commanders. If the origin of the lese-majesté complaint was a translation by the Facebook user "Eddy Assadang," the police should have charged the individual managing the account. Yet, only Chambers has been targeted, despite the fact that there has been no verification of the authorship or accuracy of the translation. Allowing such a process to become standard practice would undermine the justice system, where anyone could falsely translate and accuse others, and authorities might pursue prosecution without verifying the evidence. Moreover, the Phitsanulok Immigration Office revoked Chambers' visa the following day, without any final court judgment.
These actions suggest that ISOC Region 3, Muang Phitsanulok Police Station, and the Phitsanulok Immigration Office may have violated Section 172 and Section 175 of the Criminal Code (false reporting), Section 172 of the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption (misconduct by state officials), Section 134, paragraph two of the Criminal Procedure Code (failure to verify evidence before filing charges), and Section 200, paragraph two of the Criminal Code (malicious prosecution by state officials). The Committee on Armed Forces has resolved to compile the facts and notify the NACC to investigate the matter in parallel with the ongoing judicial process. If the court dismisses the charges or finds Chambers not guilty, the NACC will proceed with an inquiry and prosecute those involved. Wiroj said filing a lese-majesté complaint without thorough consideration undermines the rule of law, harms the monarchy, and damages international relations, affecting the country’s broader national interests. The Committee will submit a report to the Prime Minister, in her capacity as ISOC Director, urging her to ensure that operations remain within legal bounds and are not driven by the abuse of power.
A separate report will be sent to the National Police Chief, proposing regulations to ensure lese-majesté cases are handled with care and attention to their potential impact on the monarchy. Wiroj said the lese-majesté law must not be used as a tool for intimidation or harassment, as doing so causes immeasurable harm to the monarchy. Its application to foreign nationals could damage diplomatic relations and tarnish the reputation of both the country and the monarchy in the eyes of the international community.