Reuters, Bangkok :
A Thai military court on Tuesday sentenced ten people to up to five years in prison over audio and video recordings deemed insulting to the monarchy, the latest convictions in a series of cases brought since a coup more than a year ago.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief who seized power in a coup in May last year, has repeatedly vowed to vigorously enforce lese-majeste laws, that are the toughest in the world, and try anyone perceived to be anti-monarchist.
The ten were accused of distributing hundreds of video and audio clips, many on the internet and via the Facebook page of an alleged anti-monarchy group, the so-called “Banpodj” network.
Police say the clips contained content defaming the monarchy but have not explicitly discussed their content.
The crackdown comes amid widespread concerns over what will happen in the country once the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the revered, ailing 87-year-old monarch comes to an end.
The number of people sentenced on Tuesday was the highest in one court session since the junta took power.
