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Thai Journalist Charged With Sedition for Online Criticism of Junta


FILE - Thai journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk flashes a V-sign as he stands with his mouth taped outside a military base in Bangkok where he had been summoned by the junta, May 25, 2014.
FILE - Thai journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk flashes a V-sign as he stands with his mouth taped outside a military base in Bangkok where he had been summoned by the junta, May 25, 2014.

A prominent Thai journalist has been charged with sedition for Facebook posts criticizing the military junta.

Pravit Rojanaphruk, a senior writer for news website Khaosod English, acknowledged the charges at the police department's Technology Crime Suppression Division, his lawyer said.

Rojanaphruk has used social media to criticize the junta which took power after a 2014 coup which overthrew the elected civilian government.

“I’m not surprised by the charge,” Pravit told reporters after meeting with police, according to Khaosod. “As we all know, we are living under the NCPO regime. Anyone who criticizes them must pay the price.”

Rojanaphruk, who spent 23 years writing for English daily The Nation in Bangkok, faces charges both for sedition and for violating the Computer Crime Act and could face up to 14 years in prison. He has previously served detention twice for what junta officials call “attitude adjustment" in 2014 and 2015.

Check out our interview we conducted with Pravit Rojanaphruk last year.

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