In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020.&nbsp;During the protests, a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was allegedly obstructed by demonstrators in Bangkok, the capital city. However, in its ruling, the court determined that the defendants'&nbsp;actions were not aimed at impeding or causing harm to the queen or her motorcade.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened in 2020?</h2>

The incident as per Reuters took place during the height of pro-democracy protests in Thailand, when a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was heckled by protesters.&nbsp;

The demonstrations, led by the youth, called for various reforms, including changes to the lese majeste law, which imposes severe penalties for perceived insults against the monarchy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/godfather-of-ai-calls-for-action-before-ai-is-smarter-than-us-warns-looming-takeover-isnt-science-fiction-609899">Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction</a>

Video footage and images&nbsp;of the October 2020 incident showed authorities pushing activists away from the convoy.&nbsp;

<img alt="Video footage and images of the October 2020 incident showed authorities pushing activists away from the convoy. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c2d761e-c5ac-4b1a-98a0-70ca74ec8eb3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2849%29.png" />

The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, however, in its latest statement said that the court recognised that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade and that there was no prior announcement about the procession. They also pointed out the differing testimonies of witnesses and the lack of awareness among police in the area about the motorcade's route.

Reporting the acquittal, legal aid group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on Wednesday said,&nbsp;"The court saw that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade...there was no announcement before the procession."

"Witness testimony was different and even police in the area did not know there would be a royal motorcade (passing through)," said the group.

<h2>Thailand's lese majeste law</h2>

In Thailand, many consider the monarchy "sacrosanct" and the royals are officially above politics and constitutionally enshrined to be treated with "revered worship".

Thailand's lese majeste law, which is among the world's strictest, imposes harsh penalties for any perceived insult to the monarchy.&nbsp;Offences under the law can carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-prosecutors-indict-five-for-queens-motorcade-blockage-374550">Thai prosecutors indict five for queen's motorcade blockage</a>

More serious offences under the law can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, reports Reuters.

Under the law, the five activists had been charged with committing or attempting violence against the queen, heir-apparent, or regent, an offence which carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison.&nbsp;

Talking to Reuters, one of the acquitted activists, 23-year-old Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, expressed his relief and happiness, and said that they had been fighting and maintaining their innocence throughout the legal process. "I'm really glad...we've been fighting this and insisting on our innocence," he said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020.

In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020. During the protests, a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was allegedly obstructed by demonstrators in Bangkok, the capital city. However, in its ruling, the court determined that the defendants' actions were not aimed at impeding or causing harm to the queen or her motorcade. What happened in 2020? The incident as per Reuters took place during the height of pro-democracy protests in Thailand, when a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was heckled by protesters. The demonstrations, led by the youth, called for various reforms, including changes to the lese majeste law, which imposes severe penalties for perceived insults against the monarchy. Also read | Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction Video footage and images of the October 2020 incident showed authorities pushing activists away from the convoy. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, however, in its latest statement said that the court recognised that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade and that there was no prior announcement about the procession. They also pointed out the differing testimonies of witnesses and the lack of awareness among police in the area about the motorcade's route. Reporting the acquittal, legal aid group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on Wednesday said, "The court saw that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade...there was no announcement before the procession." "Witness testimony was different and even police in the area did not know there would be a royal motorcade (passing through)," said the group. Thailand's lese majeste law In Thailand, many consider the monarchy "sacrosanct" and the royals are officially above politics and constitutionally enshrined to be treated with "revered worship". Thailand's lese majeste law, which is among the world's strictest, imposes harsh penalties for any perceived insult to the monarchy. Offences under the law can carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Also read | Thai prosecutors indict five for queen's motorcade blockage More serious offences under the law can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, reports Reuters. Under the law, the five activists had been charged with committing or attempting violence against the queen, heir-apparent, or regent, an offence which carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison. Talking to Reuters, one of the acquitted activists, 23-year-old Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, expressed his relief and happiness, and said that they had been fighting and maintaining their innocence throughout the legal process. "I'm really glad...we've been fighting this and insisting on our innocence," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thailand court acquits 5 pro-democracy activists of attempted violence against Queen Suthida

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida held a rare walkabout with thousands of supporters on November 1, 2020.

Thai king and queen meet thousands of supporters | Thai King on anti-govt protests

Thai King on protests: Thailand is a land of compromise

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his newly named royal consort of her titles and military ranks for being "disloyal" and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida, the palace said late on Monday.

It made the extraordinary announcement just months after the king, who was officially crowned in May, made <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-a-first-thai-kings-wife-turns-pilot-takes-part-in-military-drills-246023#thai-kings-newly-anointed-royal-consort-246012">Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi</a> a royal noble consort - the first such appointment in almost a century.

Sineenat, 34, had breached a code of conduct for courtiers and was disloyal, a two-page palace statement said.

"Royal Noble Consort Sineenat is ungrateful and behaves in ways unbecoming of her title. She is also not content with the title bestowed upon her, doing everything to rise to the level of the queen," the statement said.

The royal family had been scheduled to participate in the Royal Barge Procession on Thursday, one of the last ceremonies in the king's year-long coronation celebrations, but last week the event was postponed until later in the year, with officials citing weather conditions.

King Vajiralongkorn was crowned as constitutional monarch in May after first taking the throne following the 2016 death of his father, who reigned for 70 years.

Days before his coronation ceremonies, the king married the deputy head of his personal bodyguard, Suthida Tidjai, 41, giving her the title of Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana.

Before July's of Sineenat's elevation, the title of royal noble consort had not been used since before the end of Thailand's absolute monarchy in 1932.

The following month, the palace released a set of unusually candid pictures of Sineenat, along with her official biography on its website.

Some of the pictures were in the usual royal tradition, with Sineenat wearing Thai dress and sitting at the king's feet. She was also pictured in the cockpit of a fighter jet and wearing a gray camouflage pattern crop-top at the controls of a light aircraft.

The page appeared to have been taken down on Monday.

As recently as last week, Sineenat was featured in official photographs released by the palace doing volunteer works in Bangkok.

Monday's statement described vivid details of Sineenat's behaviour, saying she had opposed Suthida's appointment because she had hoped to be named queen herself.

It also called her "ambitious" in trying to obtain royal titles and "self-promoting" in exercising her royal activities.

"She lacks the understanding of the good traditions of the royal court. She displays disobedience against the king and the queen," the statement said.

During his reign so far, King Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, has moved to consolidate the authority of the monarchy, including taking more direct control of the crown's vast wealth and transferring two military units to his personal control.

He also reintroduced the "Ratchasawat," a basic code of conduct for those in royal service rooted in the old absolutist court, and has punished royal staff who have breached this code in the past.

Public criticism of the king or his family is illegal under Thailand's strict lese majeste laws, with insults to the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

King Vajiralongkorn, 67, was previously married three times when he was the Crown Prince before ascending the throne.

In 2014, he divorced his third wife, former lady-in-waiting Srirasmi Suwadee, after the arrest of several of her relatives in an investigation into people making false claims of having links to the monarchy for financial gain.

Her uncle, parents and three brothers were later convicted of lese majeste and remain in prison. Srirasmi, who was never charged herself, lives outside Bangkok and has rarely been seen in public since the divorce.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his newly named royal consort of her titles and military ranks for being "disloyal" and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida, the palace said late on Monday.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his newly named royal consort of her titles and military ranks for being "disloyal" and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida, the palace said late on Monday. It made the extraordinary announcement just months after the king, who was officially crowned in May, made Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi a royal noble consort - the first such appointment in almost a century. Sineenat, 34, had breached a code of conduct for courtiers and was disloyal, a two-page palace statement said. "Royal Noble Consort Sineenat is ungrateful and behaves in ways unbecoming of her title. She is also not content with the title bestowed upon her, doing everything to rise to the level of the queen," the statement said. The royal family had been scheduled to participate in the Royal Barge Procession on Thursday, one of the last ceremonies in the king's year-long coronation celebrations, but last week the event was postponed until later in the year, with officials citing weather conditions. King Vajiralongkorn was crowned as constitutional monarch in May after first taking the throne following the 2016 death of his father, who reigned for 70 years. Days before his coronation ceremonies, the king married the deputy head of his personal bodyguard, Suthida Tidjai, 41, giving her the title of Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana. Before July's of Sineenat's elevation, the title of royal noble consort had not been used since before the end of Thailand's absolute monarchy in 1932. The following month, the palace released a set of unusually candid pictures of Sineenat, along with her official biography on its website. Some of the pictures were in the usual royal tradition, with Sineenat wearing Thai dress and sitting at the king's feet. She was also pictured in the cockpit of a fighter jet and wearing a gray camouflage pattern crop-top at the controls of a light aircraft. The page appeared to have been taken down on Monday. As recently as last week, Sineenat was featured in official photographs released by the palace doing volunteer works in Bangkok. Monday's statement described vivid details of Sineenat's behaviour, saying she had opposed Suthida's appointment because she had hoped to be named queen herself. It also called her "ambitious" in trying to obtain royal titles and "self-promoting" in exercising her royal activities. "She lacks the understanding of the good traditions of the royal court. She displays disobedience against the king and the queen," the statement said. During his reign so far, King Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, has moved to consolidate the authority of the monarchy, including taking more direct control of the crown's vast wealth and transferring two military units to his personal control. He also reintroduced the "Ratchasawat," a basic code of conduct for those in royal service rooted in the old absolutist court, and has punished royal staff who have breached this code in the past. Public criticism of the king or his family is illegal under Thailand's strict lese majeste laws, with insults to the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison. King Vajiralongkorn, 67, was previously married three times when he was the Crown Prince before ascending the throne. In 2014, he divorced his third wife, former lady-in-waiting Srirasmi Suwadee, after the arrest of several of her relatives in an investigation into people making false claims of having links to the monarchy for financial gain. Her uncle, parents and three brothers were later convicted of lese majeste and remain in prison. Srirasmi, who was never charged herself, lives outside Bangkok and has rarely been seen in public since the divorce.

Thailand King strips 'disloyal' new royal consort of titles

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced on Wednesday (May 1) that he had married his consort, General Suthida Vajiralongkorn, and named her Queen Suthida. The announcement, carried in the Royal Gazette, came just before the official coronation of the king, 66, on May 4-6.

Thai king names his consort queen days before coronation

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Thailand court acquits 5 pro-democracy activists of attempted violence against Queen Suthida

Thai king and queen meet thousands of supporters | Thai King on anti-govt protests

Thai King on protests: Thailand is a land of compromise

Thailand King strips 'disloyal' new royal consort of titles

Thai king names his consort queen days before coronation