French "threat to security" faces deportation after criticism of Thai government - he has Thai wife and children in kingdom

webfact · November 29, 2021

file photo

Well known critic of the Thai government Yan Marchal, a Frenchman, said at the weekend that he was effectively denied entry to Thailand.

Immigration said he was flown to Bangkok after arriving in Phuket from France.

The authorities have said he is on blacklists from several agencies after being deemed a "threat to national security" and "a possible danger to the public".

Mr Marchal rose to fame with a satirical lampooning of the former NCPO junta in 2019 with a song that had a million views.

He was asked to take down the song that mocked returning happiness to the people - a favorite theme of PM Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Media in Thailand reported that Mr Marchal has 48 hours to appeal and intended to do so.

He has reportedly been in Thailand for 18 years and has a Thai wife and two children as well as his own business.

He is also well known for his posts on Facebook and since turning to TikTok has amassed 600,000 followers.

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