Submitted on Wed, 10 Jan 2018 - 03:38 PM
Anon Nampa is a human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist who is renowned for his sense of humour. Today the police accused him of contempt of court and violating the controversial Computer Crimes Act over his Facebook posts that criticised the prosecution of pro-democracy activists.
If found guilty, Anon will face up to five years in jail for violating the Computer Crimes Act and up to seven years in jail for contempt of court. Read more about the case here.
“I think this prosecution is politically motivated, but it’s strange that they drag the judicial authority into it as the antagonist. I think that all my Facebook posts are honest criticism without any distortion of the text or substance of the verdicts. And personally, I believe that every organisation that exercises state power should be subject to criticism and comment,” Anon stated.
Anon Nampa (file photo)
Apart from defending various clients to pay the bills, Anon helps Thai Lawyers for Human Rights in several human rights-related cases.
Anon has been defending political prisoners and lèse majesté prisoners since 2010. His first political prisoner case was when he defended a red shirt who was accused of burning down Khon Kaen City Hall. Later he defended several people accused of lèse majesté, including Jatupat Boonpattaraksa, also known as Pai Dao Din, Amphon Tangnoppaku, aka Uncle SMS, and Siraphop. Before that, he worked with respected human rights lawyer Ratsada Manooratsada.
As a lawyer, Anon is probably not a favourite among judges and public prosecutors. He usually is very fierce during a trial and does not shy away from arguing with judges if he has to do so to uphold legal principles.
Anon, 34, was born to a rice farming family in Thung Khao Luang District, Roi Et Province. He passed the entrance examination to study sociology at Thammasat University. However, he decided to quit Thammasat after one year to study law at Ramkhamhaeng University instead.
As a pro-democracy activist, Anon is known for his humour. He starred in two music videos against the junta produced by Resistance Citizen: Chup Yoei Chan-o-cha (mocking junta’s leader) and Yang Ni Tong Ti Khao (campaigning against the junta’s draft charter).
Anon is also a talented Thai flute player. He often shows his musical talent at social events among activist friends.
