[1][2] He has lived in self-imposed exile in France since the 2014 Thai coup d'état,[3] following violent attacks[4] and lèse majesté charges.

[10] Academically, Somsak is known for having an independent, outspoken style, including harsh criticisms that have led to conflict with other progressive scholars such as Charnvit Kasetsiri, Nidhi Eoseewong, Thongchai Winichakul, and Giles Ji Ungpakorn.

Somsak also advocates the abolition of article 112 of Thailand's criminal code, the lèse-majesté law, which he described as: "against the principles of democracy and even against common sense.

Somsak argues Bhumibol's involvement in drumming up anti-communist hysteria and his support of far-right royalist paramilitaries makes him partly responsible of the brutal beatings, rape, and murder of the students on the day of the massacre.

[14] In May 2011, the Royal Thai Army filed a lèse majesté complaint against Somsak Jeamteerasakul due to an open letter he had written and published on the internet in response to a Princess Chulabhorn TV interview.

In the open letter, Somsak criticized the princess for attending the funeral of a pro-monarchy demonstrator in 2008, but not mentioning in her interview the deaths of anti-government protesters in the 2010 Thai military crackdown.

Therefore, I have the legitimate right to preserve my life, body, and liberty by refusing to allow the military junta, who committed the treasonous act of seizing power, to arrest and harm me under the excuse of lese majeste.

"[16] In February 2016, Royal Thai Police were reported to be investigating statements made by Somsak Jeamteerasakul in a 2013 TV interview as possible lèse majesté violations.

Thailand's Technology Crime Suppression Division has informed them that sharing or liking content from Somsak Jeamteerasakul may constitute a lèse majesté offence.

[20] Somsak explained his self-imposed exile by writing: "In the situation that individuals who severely violated the laws have installed themselves as rulers of the country by illegal means, and aimed to cause harm to my life, body, and liberty in such a direct manner, I regard it as the rights and duty of a bureaucrat, citizen, and member of the Thammasat community to disobey, oppose, and reject their effort to jail and harm me.

Thammasat economist Associate Professor Pichit Likitkijsomboon said: "It’s apparent that university administrators are ready to use legal means to threaten those who have differing political opinions".