BANGKOK — Paul Chambers, an American academic formerly based at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, has left the country after the attorney general’s office confirmed it would not pursue royal defamation charges against him, his lawyer said on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Chambers, 58, was arrested in early April after being accused of violating Thailand’s lese majeste law, which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years for insulting or defaming the monarchy. His arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by the army’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) following a Facebook post that cited text from a Singaporean think tank’s website. The post referenced a webinar on Thai politics in which Chambers participated.
The attorney general initially announced on May 1 that it would not prosecute Chambers due to insufficient evidence. However, police in northern Thailand challenged that decision, prompting a review. The office ultimately reaffirmed its original conclusion to drop the charges.
Chambers’ lawyer, Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, said his client has since departed Thailand but did not disclose his destination. He added that separate legal appeals against the cancellation of Chambers’ visa and his dismissal from Naresuan University are ongoing.
The case attracted criticism from academics globally and raised broader concerns over restrictions on free speech in Thailand. The U.S. government also expressed concern. Critics have long described the country’s lese majeste law as one of the world’s most severe, noting its use in silencing dissent against the monarchy, military, and government.
Chambers is known for his research on the Thai military’s political influence, an institution that has staged 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, most recently in 2014.
