16 replies to this topic

[paultain]

Thai court jails US citizen for royal insult
by Janesara Fugal

BANGKOK, December 8, 2011 (AFP) - A court in Thailand on Thursday jailed an American for two-and-a-half years for insulting the king, drawing a protest from the United States, which said he was exercising his right to free speech.

The case of Thai-born Joe Wichai Commart Gordon -- who appeared in court in shackles -- is one of a series under the kingdom's strict lese majeste laws, which rights campaigners say are used to stifle freedom of expression.

The Criminal Court sentenced Gordon to five years in prison, but halved the term as the car salesman from Colorado pleaded guilty to publishing online a banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej that he translated into Thai.

"Joe decided not to appeal this case but will ask for a royal pardon," his lawyer Arnon Nampa told reporters in Bangkok.

"In this case the court gave the lightest jail term for a lese majeste case. He's been in prison six months already. The worst case is two more years in jail but I hope that he'll receive a royal pardon."

Gordon, 55, was arrested in May on a visit to the kingdom and accused of posting the material deemed offensive while living in the United States.

Under Thailand's lese majeste legislation, anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

A senior US official questioned the court's decision to jail Gordon.

"We consider the sentence severe because he was given the sentence for his right of expression," US Consul General Elizabeth Pratt told reporters.

"We continue to respect the Thai monarchy but we also support the right of expression, which is internationally recognised as a human right."

Washington, which counts Thailand as one of its oldest allies, on Tuesday voiced alarm over a series of court cases in the kingdom over speech deemed to be offensive to the monarchy.

In a conviction that dismayed activists, 61-year-old Ampon Tangnoppakul was jailed last month for 20 years on four counts of sending messages to the private secretary of then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in May 2010.

The European Union said it was "deeply concerned" about that sentence.

Critics accuse Thailand of increased use of its lese majeste legislation as a way to suppress freedom of expression, particularly under the last government, which was supported by the Bangkok-based elite.

Observers say the new administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who took power in August, has yet to improve the situation.

"The severity of penalties being meted out for lese majeste offences in Thailand is shocking," Brad Adams, Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch, said in a statement last week.

"The new government seems to be responding to questions about its loyalty to the monarchy by filing countless lese majeste charges."

A group of activists opposed to the legislation plan a "fearlessness walk" in Bangkok on Saturday in support of Ampon and other political prisoners.

Despite the protests, the Thai government said Wednesday it had set up a committee to clamp down on websites considered insulting to the monarchy.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said he would chair the first meeting of the group this week, including representatives from the police, the interior ministry and other related agencies.

Thailand's frail king, who turned 84 on Monday, has reigned for 65 years but has been in hospital since September 2009.

Any discussion of the royal family is extremely sensitive in the politically turbulent nation, where the palace has also been silent over the king's eventual succession.

[sailor5600]

Well .....it IS common knowledge that one shall not insult the royal family of thailand, and he's given sentence to the letter of the law - the mildest sentence even.

If you can not stand by your actions and take the consequences - don't act.......

[Magners57]

It looks like Joe's sentence came a couple of days too late for a pardon. Next year perhaps. I find it hard, especially when the said subject, being half Thai, flaunts the rules.I'm no expert on Thai culture but surely, when in Rome.

[cesar67]

everyone knows the big 2 no no's in los, keep away from drugs, and do not say anything negative towards the king and do not deface anything with him on it

[odotor]

Well, well, well. He did the thing as an American citizen in the US where he enjoys freedom of speech, and he didn't write the chapter of the book himself,
he just translated it into Thai. Imagine when an interpreter is held responsible for what he translates, thats a no go.

On the other hand, he should have known, as a Thai, that this kind of stuff is a serious offence in Thailand. His mistake was that he did not publish it anonymously.

But hats off, this man has courage.

[travis bickle]

Not so long ago,in pattaya,a swiss guy drew glasses and a mustache on a portrait of the king and was jailed for 2 years......and quite rightly so!-long live his majesty the king .............

[paultain]

Just for the benefit for the newbies that have never been to Thailand yet, and one of the big No,No's you don't want to do

[Albert Steptoe]

Pity they don't do the same in the Uk to the foreigners who come to our country and insult HM Queen ,they might be a bit more respectful then.
Our problem we are to soft on the buggers

[Tony Soprano]

I knew not to say anything about the King before my 1st LOS trip both from joining this forum and
other stuff I read up on so I knew some do's and don't's. This guy who went to prison was Thai and
he should have known better. You can't apply the standards and customs in your country in somebody
else's. One thing I didn't know before I went was how they play that 1 minute film about the King before
a movie and everyone stands up. The LB I was with grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. But, I don't
have a problem with that.

Edited by TSteve C, 26 February 2012 - 08:14 AM.

[Albert Steptoe]

No one should have to be told ,it's common courtesy to respect someone's monarch and National Anthem, the problem with many people they think they can act as they do in their own country , say what ever the hell they like, pisses me off no end when I see Arabs burning British and US Flags, demeaning our royalty and our system of government and all we do is stand and watch , god help us if we infringe their human rights.

[JimmyLaoShi]

True that, asshound. Live or even visit a country.....Be familiar with their laws (however disagreeable).

[Ringspun]

Pandemonium, on 09 December 2011 - 01:38 AM, said:

everyone knows the big 2 no no's in los, keep away from drugs, and do not say anything negative towards the king and do not deface anything with him on it

Totally agree, everyone pretty much has this rammed down their throat on net, forums and just talking to people... if you do that then well, your fked!

[Twoshots]

Every one who knows anything of Thailand is aware of the law. And as foreigners should wisely obide.

But does that make it a good or just Law ??

Would such a law be OK in America in deference to the President ?
In Australia in Deference to Their Queen ?

Obviously not something we can discuss in detail on this forum. But perhaps its a Thai law that would have to be changed in the not distant future, through an inevitable and natural event ?

[Albert Steptoe]

fucking right it would I get sick and tired of every tom ,dick and Ahmed burning our flag, insulting our Queen,burning our bible, jail the bastards or at least sling the buggers out of our country, I was always taught even when in the Army you respect peoples laws and customs when you are in their country but sadly this appears to be a one way street these days.

[cesar67]

asshound69, i am all for patrionism, there should be stricter border controls, and tougher deportation rules when immigrants do not want to live by our rules.
however as a free country with free speach, i am not a loyalist, therefore i can say i cannot be bothered with a bunch of toffs, ie the royal family, i have no time for the queen and her family.
i just do not see the point in it anymore. the power has long been passed to the house of commons and away from the royal family.
we only keep them for what tradition, for the opening of parliament. in this time of economic chaos it's an expensive tradition.
i cannot be bothered with elitism.
The idea of the Divine Right of Kings evolved in Europe during the Middle Ages. The theory claimed that kings were answerable only to God and it was therefore sinful for their subjects to resist them.
and this is now well out dated.
i just think that they are an expensive waste of time.
The British Royal Family cost the taxpayer £36.7m last year. Does it represent value for money? well frankly no.
IMHO If the monarchy supposedly brings so much money into the country, then why not make it history, open Buck palace as a museum, and farm out the royals to the highest bidder, speaking tours, guest appearances etc. Let the market decide. If they can't turn a profit then they should be nationalised under democratic control.
times are a changing.
but hey for everyone of me there's a royal family supporter, freedom of speach and choice, wonderful thing isn't it

Edited by Pandemonium, 15 March 2012 - 03:05 AM.

[Fie dollah]

The UK no longer has the right of free speech, If you were to stand in a public place and shout your views, someone will be upset etc and you will now find a charge of breach of the peace in the form of a public order offense.

And yes we pay tax's for the pleasure.

Fie

[Albert Steptoe]

Yes your absolutely spot on Fie , I am totally sick of it 50% income Tax , 11% National Insurence , 20% VAT on everything, bloody council tax at £1800 a year.
People like to pull our country apart but notice most of them that do it are the ones who contribute the least.