Dictatorship on Trial

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In 2014, following a decade of political unrest, Thailand experienced its 13th coup since the shift from absolute to constitutional monarchy in 1932, led by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Despite promises to restore the rule of law, justice—already fragile in Thailand—vanished entirely. The legal system was manipulated to criminalize democratic dissent, enable extrajudicial violence, and ensure impunity for state officials involved in the coup and related crimes. Through a blend of legal and historical analysis and extensive courtroom observation, this work examines the legal, social, and political ramifications of authoritarianism, highlighting court decisions as both a record of repression and a potential avenue for future justice. Each chapter, organized chronologically over the NCPO's five-year regime, focuses on different political cases, illustrating how the state's legal interpretations left activists vulnerable and allowed perpetrators to evade accountability. Drawing inspiration from feminist legal scholars, the analysis is complemented by reimagined judgments created with Thai human rights activists. By exploring alternative interpretations and conclusions, the author envisions what genuine justice could entail and evaluates the legal and political changes needed to achieve it.