Bangkok, Thailand CNN —A Thai court on Wednesday acquitted five activists accused of obstructing the Queen’s motorcade at a protest in 2020, in a landmark judgment that ended the prospect of more severe punishment nearly three years after rare calls for reform of the powerful monarchy erupted in the kingdom. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which represented the five activists, said a court in the capital Bangkok acquitted the defendants on all the charges, ruling the protesters were not aware of the incoming royal convoy. On October 14, 2020, dozens of protesters had gathered outside Bangkok’s Government House when Queen’s Suthida’s motorcade drove past. If the actions are considered likely to endanger the Queen’s life, then the death penalty could be applied. When the protesters realized it was a royal procession, they allowed it to move through and there were no objects thrown or obstruction of the procession, the court found, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

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Persons: Boonkueanun “ Francis ” Paothong, –, Lese, Queen’s, King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s, Prince Dipangkorn, Ekachai, Suranat Paenprasert, ‘, ’ Boonkueanun, Boonkueanun, “, ” Organizations: Thailand CNN, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, CNN, Party, Hunger Games, Police, Queen, Relations, Mahidol University Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Thailand’s, Bangkok’s