"Suvicha Thako, [Suwicha Thakor] 34, was released on Monday from the Klong Prem Prison, where he had been detained since the Criminal Court sentenced him to 10 years in jail on April 3, 2009, the department's deputy director-general Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said.
Suvicha, who once worked as a mechanical engineer in an oil-drilling company, was arrested last January in Nakhon Phanom for posting messages on the Internet that were deemed derogatory to the monarchy. He confessed to the crime and the court reduced his original penalty by half. While in prison, the man sought a royal pardon and was later granted it."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...e-30132788.html
[He still served 1 1/2 years in jail for posting "material offensive to the monarchy"on the internet, having been arrested in January, 2009 and refused bail awaiting trial]
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Suwicha Thakor gets pardon for lese majese
Started by Sexpat, Jul 01 2010 07:24 AM
5 replies to this topic
#3
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Posted 01 July 2010 - 12:07 PM
It's always nice to see people who never belonged in jail in the first place being released back into the world of the living. In this case, however, one wonders if the nightmare for this man will ever end, pardon or not, given the suffering already inflicted for the crime of speaking too freely.
You may recall that Suwicha was arrested in January, 2009, while he and his wife were out shopping with their 3 kids in his hometown in Nakhon Phanom province. According to reports at the time, he was interrogated by police without a lawyer present and was persuaded that his cooperation would lead to his prompt release back to his family. After he agreed, he was nonetheless detained by police and not allowed to go home pending the possible filing of charges. His pardon yesterday was his first day of freedom since January 14, 2009.
The police also raided his place in Bangkok, from which he was accused of using his computer "as a base for spreading material defaming the monarchy."He was then sacked by his employer without severance pay because he was charged "with a serious crime." Though he was the principal bread earner for his family of five, he was repeatedly denied bail pending trial.
His comments at the time: ‘What I want to know is: “Did I kill someone?”’ he has said. ‘I have seen suspects who killed people or raped young children released on bail. Some prominent individuals who faced charges similar to mine were released on bail. But I have not been granted bail. What is the standard on this issue?"
He pleaded guilty, after being held for three months in the hell that Thailand's jails are, in exchange for a reduction of his draconian sentence from 20 to 10 years in prison. His pardon yesterday comes one and a half year since he was arrested and held. One wonders if he will ever be able to pick up the pieces of what must be a shattered life.
Portia remarks in the Merchant of Venice that "the quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." In this case, she might have added: But all things die if it doesn't rain in time.
You may recall that Suwicha was arrested in January, 2009, while he and his wife were out shopping with their 3 kids in his hometown in Nakhon Phanom province. According to reports at the time, he was interrogated by police without a lawyer present and was persuaded that his cooperation would lead to his prompt release back to his family. After he agreed, he was nonetheless detained by police and not allowed to go home pending the possible filing of charges. His pardon yesterday was his first day of freedom since January 14, 2009.
The police also raided his place in Bangkok, from which he was accused of using his computer "as a base for spreading material defaming the monarchy."He was then sacked by his employer without severance pay because he was charged "with a serious crime." Though he was the principal bread earner for his family of five, he was repeatedly denied bail pending trial.
His comments at the time: ‘What I want to know is: “Did I kill someone?”’ he has said. ‘I have seen suspects who killed people or raped young children released on bail. Some prominent individuals who faced charges similar to mine were released on bail. But I have not been granted bail. What is the standard on this issue?"
He pleaded guilty, after being held for three months in the hell that Thailand's jails are, in exchange for a reduction of his draconian sentence from 20 to 10 years in prison. His pardon yesterday comes one and a half year since he was arrested and held. One wonders if he will ever be able to pick up the pieces of what must be a shattered life.
Portia remarks in the Merchant of Venice that "the quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." In this case, she might have added: But all things die if it doesn't rain in time.
#4
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Posted 02 July 2010 - 11:18 AM
The international association of journalists known as Reporters without Borders has released this statement:
http://en.rsf.org/thailand-royal-pardon-fo...2010,37857.html
QUOTE
"Reporters Without Borders welcomes the pardon that King Bhumibol Adulyadej issued on 28 June to Suvicha Thakhor, who was serving a 10-year jail sentence on a lèse majesté charge for allegedly using software to modify photos of the royal family before posting them online.
“Prison was very tough,” Suvicha told Reporters Without Borders after his release. “At first I was completely shattered. I hit rock bottom. I had to fight to survive. Fortunately my family visited me often. I kept going by following the teachings of Buddhism and practising meditation. I now feel fine but I have lost my job. I will probably become a monk for a while.”
Suvicha added: “It pains me to think of the four or five other people who are still in prison on lèse majesté charges, the political prisoners and other detainees. The current situation in Thailand is very worrying. It is a difficult time for the country. I thank all those who helped me, including Reporters Without Borders, for keeping up the pressure all the time I was held.”
While welcoming Suvicha’s release, Reporters Without Borders reiterates its condemnation of the political use that is made of the lèse majesté legislation and calls for its reform. It is used to violate freedom of expression and impose disproportionate sentences ranging from three to 15 years in prison. The riots are finished in Bangkok, but the battle is now being waged on the Internet, where around 50,000 web pages are still censored. . .
Thailand is listed as a “Country under surveillance” in the Reporters Without Borders annual update of the “Enemies of the Internet” that was released on 11 March."
“Prison was very tough,” Suvicha told Reporters Without Borders after his release. “At first I was completely shattered. I hit rock bottom. I had to fight to survive. Fortunately my family visited me often. I kept going by following the teachings of Buddhism and practising meditation. I now feel fine but I have lost my job. I will probably become a monk for a while.”
Suvicha added: “It pains me to think of the four or five other people who are still in prison on lèse majesté charges, the political prisoners and other detainees. The current situation in Thailand is very worrying. It is a difficult time for the country. I thank all those who helped me, including Reporters Without Borders, for keeping up the pressure all the time I was held.”
While welcoming Suvicha’s release, Reporters Without Borders reiterates its condemnation of the political use that is made of the lèse majesté legislation and calls for its reform. It is used to violate freedom of expression and impose disproportionate sentences ranging from three to 15 years in prison. The riots are finished in Bangkok, but the battle is now being waged on the Internet, where around 50,000 web pages are still censored. . .
Thailand is listed as a “Country under surveillance” in the Reporters Without Borders annual update of the “Enemies of the Internet” that was released on 11 March."
http://en.rsf.org/thailand-royal-pardon-fo...2010,37857.html
#5
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Posted 03 July 2010 - 09:35 AM
I think it's interesting that this man's comments to the reporters after his pardon were directed toward the other unfortunate people who are still locked up for lese majeste and to thank the people "for keeping up the pressure all the time I was held." Apparently, no "thanks for the pardon."
#6
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Posted 15 July 2010 - 12:27 PM
[attachmentid=918]
Suwicha Thakor has entered the monkhood in his hometown of Nakhon Phanom, after being released from prison where he was detained for over a year on lèse majesté charges.
On 11 July, Suwicha was ordained at Chonlatharn Bunyawas Temple in Nakhon Phanom’s Thakor subdistrict, and was given the religious name Khema Jitto.
http://www.prachatai3.info/english/node/1940
Suwicha Thakor has entered the monkhood in his hometown of Nakhon Phanom, after being released from prison where he was detained for over a year on lèse majesté charges.
On 11 July, Suwicha was ordained at Chonlatharn Bunyawas Temple in Nakhon Phanom’s Thakor subdistrict, and was given the religious name Khema Jitto.
http://www.prachatai3.info/english/node/1940
