What happened to freedom of speech in Thailand? It's gone. An extremely harsh sentence has been given to a Thakin supporter, who publically railed against the military overthrow of a legitimate government, then attacked the monarchy for their support of the coup. The French revolution and Nepal uprising against the royal family was invoked, which many Thais didn't like, but it's not like she threatened anybody. It's yet another case of Lese Majeste cases gone wild, as political parties use this legalese to pin their opponents and put them in prison. Sad. Disgraceful. Free Da Torpedo!
The New York Times reports.
A political activist was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday for damaging the “reputation and honor” of the king and queen of Thailand, the latest in a string of convictions for insulting the country’s monarchy.
Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, a former journalist, was sentenced to six years on each of three counts of insulting King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a political speech last year. She has been detained without bail since her arrest in July 2008, and her trial was closed to the public on national security grounds.
“It is what I expected to happen,” Ms. Daranee said. “I will appeal.”
Thailand has long maintained some of the world’s most strict laws against lèse-majesté, but only in recent years have they been put to use with such regularity.
The rise in cases may be related to anxiety about the 81-year-old king’s health and the future of the monarchy as well as the continuing political turmoil in the country.
Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, known as “red shirts,” delivered a provocative petition to King Bhumibol’s aides on Aug. 17 requesting a pardon for Mr. Thaksin. They are planning a follow-up rally on Sunday. Mr. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
Ms. Daranee, who is described by the Thai media as being a member of the red shirts, was protesting the 2006 coup when she made her speech.
The three-judge panel ruled that even though she did not mention the king or queen by name in the speech, she had insinuated that they supported the coup. One of the ways she made her point, the judges said, was to refer to yellow and blue, the traditional Thai birth colors of the king and queen.
Among those charged with lèse-majesté recently are a number of strong-willed activists in a country that has traditionally prized deference.
In February, Giles Ungpakorn, a respected academic at one of the country’s leading universities, fled to Britain after being charged with insulting the monarchy in a book.
The Thai media have highlighted the cases of Chotisak Onsoong, a 28-year-old political activist who was questioned by the police after he refused to stand up during the playing of the royal anthem at a movie theater. Mr. Chotisak’s friend, Jitra Kochadech, a union activist, was fired from her job after she was shown on television wearing a T-shirt that said, “Not standing is not a crime.”
In April, Suwicha Thakhor, a 34-year-old mechanical engineer working for an oil rig company, was jailed for 10 years after the police traced to his home computer Internet postings deemed insulting to the monarchy.
The Times in London reports.
A court in Bangkok sentenced a political activist to 18 years in prison yesterday for insulting the Thai Royal Family, the latest in a flurry of cases that analysts say are inhibiting freedom of speech and stifling political dissent..
Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul was convicted of three charges of lèse-majesté for remarks that she made in speeches last year criticising the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra, who was then the Prime Minister.
Mr Thaksin, who was convicted in absentia last year of breaching conflict of interest laws and lives abroad to avoid a jail term, remains a polarising figure in Thai politics.
Mr Thaksin’s Red Shirt supporters plan to rally again in central Bangkok tomorrow to demand change. They are furious with the Government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, which they deem illegitimate, and want Mr Thaksin to be reinstated.
Daranee, 46, was sentenced to three six-year prison terms to run consecutively for insulting the monarchy in speeches that she gave at Red Shirt rallies. Prommas Phoo-sang, the judge, closed the court to the public and the media last month, citing reasons of national security.
“It is what I expected to happen,” Daranee said after the verdict. “I will appeal.” The decision to fight the charges is unusual.
Human rights lawyers said that the charges are difficult to beat in a nation known for its intense loyalty to the Royal Family, and most defendants choose to plead guilty and beg the King for mercy.
Several people have been charged with or investigated over lèse-majesté in recent years. They include a man who refused to stand for the royal anthem in a cinema, the Australian author Harry Nicolaides, whose book sold seven copies, and the former BBC correspondent Jonathan Head, who presided over a public debate.
Police are investigating the entire board of the Thailand Foreign Correspondents’ Club for possible breaches of the laws.
Many Thai politicians appear to regard lèse-majesté laws as a tool to use against their opponents. Earlier this year Mr Abhisit said that his Government would discuss amending the laws but little progress has been made
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