ZAMBIA EXPLAINS
When Questioning Those in Power Becomes a Crime
Article by Rodgers Mangwela | KASONDE24
Imagine standing before thousands of people, dressed as a fictional wizard, holding a microphone and asking questions about the powers of your country's most influential institution. You are not carrying a weapon. You are not leading an armed rebellion. You are simply using words to challenge an institution you believe should be open to public scrutiny.
Now imagine that the consequences of that speech could keep you behind bars for more than three decades.
This is the extraordinary story of Arnon Nampa, a Thai human rights lawyer whose decision to question the country's monarchy during a Harry Potter-themed demonstration has contributed to a prison sentence exceeding 34 years.
His story raises uncomfortable but important questions about democracy, freedom of expression, constitutional rights and the relationship between citizens and those who hold power.
For Zambia and the wider African continent, it is a story worth understanding.
Who Is Arnon Nampa?
Arnon Nampa is a 42-year-old Thai human rights lawyer who became one of the prominent voices in Thailand's pro-democracy movement.
His public profile grew during the student-led demonstrations of 2020, when thousands of young people took to the streets demanding political reforms, constitutional changes and greater accountability from public institutions.
On 3 August 2020, Arnon attended a demonstration in central Bangkok dressed as Harry Potter, the famous fictional character created by British author J.K. Rowling.
But the costume was more than entertainment.
Using the unusual setting, he delivered a speech calling for greater public discussion about Thailand's monarchy, including questions surrounding its political influence, wealth and relationship with the military.
For a society where public criticism of the monarchy is heavily restricted, his speech represented a significant challenge to an established national taboo.
What followed would change his life.
Thailand's Lèse-Majesté Law: Why Is He in Prison?
At the centre of Arnon's legal troubles is Thailand's controversial lèse-majesté law, commonly known as Section 112 of the country's Criminal Code.
The legislation makes it a criminal offence to defame, insult or threaten the King, Queen, heir-apparent or Regent.
Those convicted can receive prison sentences ranging from three to 15 years for each offence.
Supporters of the legislation argue that it protects an important national institution that holds considerable cultural and historical significance in Thai society.
However, human rights organisations and critics argue that the law is applied too broadly, creating an environment where citizens may fear discussing matters of national importance.
According to the BBC, 294 people, including 20 minors, have been prosecuted under the law since the 2020 protests began.
The controversy is not simply about whether a country should protect its monarchy. It is also about where protection of an institution ends and restrictions on public discussion begin.
How Did His Prison Sentence Reach 34 Years?
On 30 October 2026, a Bangkok court handed Arnon another two years and eight months in prison over a case connected to a 2020 demonstration.
This latest conviction brought his cumulative prison sentence to more than 34 years.
The case is one of 14 prosecutions brought against him under the same legislation, with two other verdicts still pending at the time of the BBC report.
Arnon has already spent approximately three years in Bangkok Remand Prison.
His situation has also affected his family. His young children have limited opportunities to see him, and he has been writing letters to them from prison.
His 10-year-old daughter has reportedly expressed her feelings through drawings depicting her father behind prison bars.
It is a painful reminder that political and legal disputes do not affect only the people standing in courtrooms. Families, particularly children, often carry consequences they never chose.
Freedom of Expression Versus Protection of National Institutions
The case presents a difficult question for modern societies: Should citizens have the freedom to question powerful national institutions, even when their opinions are considered offensive or disrespectful?
Every country has institutions that form part of its identity. These may include traditional leadership, religious institutions, political offices, royal families and constitutional authorities.
However, protecting an institution does not necessarily mean protecting every decision made by the people associated with it from public discussion.
In democratic systems, public accountability is an important principle. Citizens need opportunities to discuss national affairs, question policies and examine how public power is exercised.
At the same time, freedom of expression does not mean that every statement is automatically protected. Threats, incitement to violence, defamation and other unlawful conduct may be subject to legitimate restrictions.
The difficult task is finding a balance between protecting legitimate institutional interests and ensuring that laws are not used to silence peaceful criticism.
Arnon's case has placed that debate under an international spotlight.
What Does This Mean for Zambia and Africa?
For a reader in Kabwe, Lusaka or even Katondo, Thailand may appear geographically distant. But the questions emerging from this case are not unfamiliar to African societies.
Across Africa, discussions about political accountability, traditional authority, constitutional rights and freedom of expression remain important parts of national development.
Zambia, for example, has constitutional protections for freedom of expression under Article 20 of the Constitution, although that freedom operates alongside other legal limitations and protections.
The important lesson is that democratic institutions should create room for responsible public discussion.
Citizens should be able to question government decisions, examine public expenditure, discuss constitutional matters and hold public officials accountable within the law.
Equally, criticism should be based on facts rather than threats, fabricated allegations or incitement.
For journalists, bloggers, musicians, writers and content creators, the story is particularly relevant. The digital age has made it easier for ordinary people to participate in conversations that were once dominated by traditional media and political institutions.
But having a platform also comes with responsibility. Publishing information requires accuracy, fairness and an understanding of the potential consequences of one's words.
The Price of Speaking a Forbidden Truth
Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of Arnon's story is not the courtroom or the prison sentence. It is the possibility that his children may grow up knowing their father mainly through letters, court appearances and drawings.
Despite his circumstances, he has continued preparing his legal arguments and assisting other prisoners with their cases.
In a letter to his family, he reflected on the difficulty of speaking what he described as a forbidden truth.
His words capture the personal cost of challenging established boundaries in a society where certain subjects remain difficult to discuss openly.
Whether one agrees with his arguments or not, his case deserves serious examination because it touches on fundamental questions about justice, public accountability and the limits of state power.
For Africa, Zambia and the next generation growing up in places such as Kabwe and Katondo, the lesson is worth remembering: building a nation requires more than protecting its institutions. It also requires creating an environment where citizens can discuss, question and contribute to the future of those institutions.
A country should be strong enough to have difficult conversations about its own future.
Because sometimes the most important questions a society must confront are the very questions it finds uncomfortable to ask.
published by KASONDE24
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