Arnon Nampa

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Arnon Nampa (born August 18, 1984) is a Thai lawyer and activist known for calling for monarchy reform and for leading parts of the 2020–2021 pro-democracy protests in Thailand.

Early life and career
- He was born in a rice-farming family in Roi Et province and grew up near the fields.
- He studied law at Ramkhamhaeng University and became a barrister in 2009.
- Nampa started working on human rights cases and, in 2011, helped start a pro bono law group that became the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) in 2014. The group defended many red-shirt protesters and people charged under lese-majeste laws.
- He helped form the Resistant Citizen group in 2015, organizing protests and satirical performances about political events.

Activism and legal challenges
- Through the 2010s, he faced many arrests and legal cases, including for sedition and computer crimes, as he supported activists and spoke out against government policies.
- He and other activists played a prominent role during the 2010s in pushing for political reform and accountability.

The 2020–2021 protests
- In August 2020, Nampa publicly urged monarchy reform within a constitutional framework, a bold stance in Thailand.
- He spoke at large protests and helped organize actions that pressed for major changes to the monarchy’s powers.
- He was detained multiple times for extended periods during the crackdown on the protests, and his case drew international attention.

Awards
- 2020: Jarupong Thongsin for Democracy Award.
- 2021: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights for his human rights work and advocacy.

Recent legal outcomes
- January 17, 2024: Nampa was sentenced to four years in prison for lese-majeste related to his 2021 social media activity.
- July 28, 2024: He received an additional four-year sentence for defaming the royal family and violating the Computer Crime Act through two 2021 posts.
- He has spent long periods in detention during these cases and remains a controversial figure in Thai politics, admired by supporters of reform and criticized by opponents.

Today, Arnon Nampa continues to be active in legal and political advocacy, known for his stance that Thailand’s monarchy should be subject to constitutional limits.