In a period of democratic decline in Southeast Asia, Thailand is sometimes held up as an outlier; compared to a raging civil war following a military coup in next door Myanmar, the arrest and banning of opposition politicians in autocratic Cambodia, and the remaining communist governments of Laos and Vietnam, that Thailand had largely free and fair elections last year was hailed as a success story. In June, Thailand became the first country in the region to allow same-sex marriage, an important human rights milestone.

But this week, Thailand’s Constitutional Court may unravel the electoral will of the people by dissolving the political party that won a surprising sweeping victory last year — because of that party’s violation of the country’s infamous lèse majesté provisions that protect Thailand’s monarchy from insult, defamation or perceived threat.  The country’s constitution enshrines this protection, and criminal code Section 112 can imprison anyone in the country for up to 15 years per offense; everyone from ordinary street vendors to political activists to the country’s top political leaders.

The Move Forward Party, which ran on a progressive platform and helped push through the gay rights bill in the country’s parliament, also promised during its 2023 parliamentary election campaign to amend Section 112. A series of charges against its top leadership followed.

Lèse majesté charges are also currently being heard against the populist former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, whose political party remains a strong force in the country; in May, 28-year old political activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom died from a hunger strike while in jail for protesting royal motorcades.

Journalist Kira Kay was in Thailand and received exclusive access to film with Move Forward Party leadership, just as it received word it had been found guilty of violating the country’s constitution  — equivalent to treason — and would face dissolution. She also profiles Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a democracy activist turned first-time parliamentarian who received an actual criminal sentence and faces six years in prison, for repostings she made of social media comments deemed in violation of criminal code 112.