The sentence,which comes amid an ongoing protest movement that has seen unprecedented public criticism of the monarchy,was swiftly condemned by rights groups.
“The manner of her sentencing is also chilling. The way authorities have evidently sought to maximise the punishments by multiplying criminal charges sends a clear message of deterrence to Thailand’s 50 million internet users,"Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific regional director Yamini Mishra said in a statement.
A senior researcher for the group Human Rights Watch said earlier:“Today’s court verdict is shocking and sends a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy won’t be tolerated,but they will also be severely punished,” said Sunai Phasuk,a senior researcher for the group Human Rights Watch.
Violating Thailand's lese majeste law – known widely as Article 112 – is punishable by three to 15 years’ imprisonment per count. The law is controversial not only because it has been used to punish things as simple as liking a post on Facebook but also because anyone – not just royals or authorities – can lodge a complaint that can tie up the person accused in legal proceedings for years.
During the country's last 15 years of political unrest,the law has frequently been used as a political weapon as well as in personal vendettas. Actual public criticism of the monarchy,however,had until recently been extremely rare.
That changed during the past year,when young protesters calling for democratic reforms also issued calls for the reform of the monarchy,which has long been regarded as an almost sacred institution by many Thais. The protesters have said the institution is unaccountable and holds too much power in what is supposed to be a democratic constitutional monarchy.