Protesters hold up the three-finger salute during a 'Bad Student' rally in Bangkok on November 21, 2020. (JACK TAYLOR / AFP)

BANGKOK - Thai police have summoned seven leaders of anti-government protests to face charges of lese majeste over comments made at demonstrations that demanded changes to the monarchy, a police source and a rights group said on Tuesday.

It will be the first time such charges have been brought under so-called lese majeste laws relating to insults to the royal family in more than two years. They can carry up to 15 years in prison.

It will be the first time such charges have been brought under so-called lese majeste laws relating to insults to the royal family in more than two years. They can carry up to 15 years in prison

The police source, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the protest leaders had until Nov 30 to answer the summonses, which were brought over comments made at protests on Sept 19 and 20.

One of the seven, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, told Reuters his family had received a summons on the charges and he was not worried.

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Others named included human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, a student leader. Neither was immediately available for comment.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights told Reuters that police had notified the protest leaders’ lawyers.

The summonses came a day before protesters have said they will march to the office that manages the royal fortune.

Police said on Tuesday that no protesters would be allowed within 150 meters (450 feet) of the Crown Property Bureau, where royalists have also said they plan to gather in defense of a monarchy that faces its biggest challenge in decades.

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More than 50 people were hurt last week when police used water cannon and tear gas against thousands of protesters at parliament in the most violent day of more than four months of demonstrations.

The Royal Palace has made no comment since the protests began, although the king said the protesters were loved “all the same” when asked for comment on the demonstrations.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has rejected protesters’ calls to resign and said last week that all laws would be used against protesters who break them - raising the concern of activists that the royal insult laws would be among them.

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