Court to rule today whether Thai protest speeches were royal treason

The Constitutional Court today will rule today on whether three prominent activists attempted to overthrow the government and king in speeches they gave last year. 

The court will rule at 3pm whether the pro-democracy movement leaders – Arnon Nampa, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok – violated Section 49 of the Constitution by giving speeches in defiance of the Thai monarchy at two events on Aug. 3 and Aug. 10, 2020.

In a bid to prevent protesters gathering outside, the court on Chaeng Wattana Road ordered that the area be kept clear and attendance for the hearing be limited to the accused and petitioner to “ensure peace and order.”

The complaint was filed by Nathaporn Toprayoon, who previously accused a now-defunct opposition party of a bizarre conspiracy theory involving the so-called Illuminati. It originally named…