5 replies to this topic

[B.I.G.]

Here's the latest on the Thai internet blogger who got arrested for lese majeste two months ago and which seems to have been ignored by the Nation or Bangkok Post:

"The case of Internet user, Mr.Suwicha Thakhor, who was arrested on January 14, 2009, has been detained in Klong Prem prison, and denied bail twice. Eventually, he was prosecuted to the court by public prosecutor on March 26, 2009.

Since the accused has pleaded guilty therefore no trial will be taken. The verdict is scheduled on April 3, 2009 at 9 am. onwards at the Criminal Court, Ratchadapisek Road. This will be the first verdict against Internet user under Computer Crime Act 2007 which related to act against national security. The accusation based on serious charges related to three major laws."

http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/

[Gene]

It will be interesting to see what happens to him now that he has pleaded guilty. Does that mean there will no proceedings in open court ? I wonder if he will be pardoned because I don't recall ever reading one case where a Thai, not farang, has been pardoned for lese majeste.

[DOLLY]

Here's some horrible news. I don't know what this country is coming to.

"The Criminal Court Friday sentenced a man to ten year imprisonment for posting a picture deemed insulting the monarchy on a website. Initially, Suwicha Thakho was sentenced to be jailed for 20 years but the court commuted the jail term by half after he pleaded guilty. He was charged with violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code and violating the computer crime act. The man wept upon learning of his sentence."

http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/20...#comment-638102

[Sylvan]

Although I admire the devotion that many Thai people pay to the monarch, I have to confess that this 10 years sentence of a young man with a family is shocking and seems way out of proportion to the offense. One of the blogs says that the man told the judge who sentenced him: "You have given me 10 years but you have sentenced my family to hard labor or death." This kind of publicity is the last thing that the monarchy needs. It makes the whole country seem backward and authoritarian.

[Victor]

I have the same misgivings about this latest case. There is genuine love for the King among many Thais but this kind of harsh punishment for someone who feels differently is bound to have a negative effect toward the monarchy, even among people who love the King but have trouble understanding how a poor Thai family can be destroyed by people who claim to be acting to protect the royal family. The punishment is way out of line with the offense and reflects badly on king and country. It's the kind of situation you read about in history books before the revolutions in France and Russia.

[Victor]

If this man was a foreigner, he would probably have been pardoned by now to avoid all the bad international press about the monarchy and its role in Thai society. But Suwicha is some poor nobody Thai so the hypocrites running this government could care less what happens to him. It's appalling to think that this kind of thing happens in a place that calls itself "The Land of Smiles."