 Careful what you say about the Thai Monarchy! |
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| Australian man jailed for 3 years due to offensive chapter in a novel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Ali Ali Watters Post Count: 3927 Msg: #1 50 weeks ago, January 19th 2009 | BBC Report |  It is rare for foreigners to be prosecuted under the draconian lese majeste law, although the number of Thais who have been charged has risen sharply over the past year, as the military has ordered better protection of the monarchy's image.  BBC ReportI've also heard of foreigner arrests for desecration of posters of the Thai King - but nothing as extreme as this. Any more reports?  Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #2 50 weeks ago, January 19th 2009 | He only got 3 years! He didnt say anything too bad then. :D ;) | There was a Swiss guy sentenced to 10 years in Thailand for drawing moustaches on pictures of the king one drunken night. He got out after 3 months because the King pardoned him on his(the kings) birthday. I dont have a news blog on it handy. I think I will Google insulting the Thai king criminals and see what gets coughed up. Last time I was in Thailand I was being distracted by my daugher and did not notice that everybody had stood up. A police man sternly ordered me to stand up which I did. Later he gave me a smiling thank you for standing up. I found out afterwards that an Ode to the King had been playing. Makes me wonder what would have happened if I had refused to stand. Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #3 50 weeks ago, January 19th 2009 | The king did the same for a Swiss man given a 10-year sentence two years ago for defacing his portrait. Ah, they mention the Swiss guy in the news link Ali posted. Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #4 49 weeks ago, January 20th 2009 | Does anyone know if the Australian guy was living in Thailand when he got arrested or did he just go there for a holiday and end up staying longer than he thought he would? |  Mikey M Mike Meggiato Post Count: 325 Msg: #5 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Yes i rember visting the imax at the siam towers in Bangkok and having to stand for the national anthem while they showed pictures of the king on the screen, it was different for sure, Afterwards i heard that they dont play films till evryone stands for the anthem including farangs.....no mention of arrests though? | Mike:) Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #6 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Afterwards i heard that they dont play films till evryone stands for the anthem including farangs.....no mention of arrests thoughSo, if I had felt like being difficult and not standing, I could have held up the starting of the fireworks display at the Kwai river bridge for a few hours. :D [Edited: 09:48 - Mell ] Ali Ali Watters Post Count: 3927 Msg: #7 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | He'd been there for several years - teaching English - wrote the book whilst there; sold 7 copies - attracting the attention of the state - and was arrested when he came to leave. | I haven't seen any follow up of this as yet - and as the king is not in the best of health - there might not be the traditional royal reprieve. Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #8 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Thanks Ali :) | Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #9 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Here is what the Foreign Prisoners Support Services report about the situation. Their reports are usually detailed because they are in contact with the families of prisoners and the consulates and those who visit the prisoners. | TravelBlog members can probably visit him or write to him(be careful what you say in your letters if you do) too if they want. There will be information on the above site about which prison he is in. [Edited: 11:51 - Mell ]  Jo Trouble Jo McCarthy Post Count: 3170 Msg: #10 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Looks like the Victorian government is getting in on the act; | THE Victorian Government is in talks with federal authorities and lawyers over the plight of a Melbourne writer jailed in Bangkok for insulting Thailand's royal family.Victorian Government takes on jailed writer Harry Nicolaides case - heraldsun.com.au Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #11 49 weeks ago, January 21st 2009 | Even though the King himself has said he should not be above criticism, the police feel the need to investigate every complaint, fearful that dismissing even the most trivial cases might be considered disrespectful. From the same link as in Msg 9. At least the king himself has some common sense.  The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #12 45 weeks ago, February 22nd 2009 | Very good news - Mr Nicolaides has been released from jail after receiving a royal pardon. You can read it here: Tearful reunion as Nicolaides returns to Melbourne | Ali Ali Watters Post Count: 3927 Msg: #13 44 weeks ago, February 25th 2009 | That's good news - seemed a complete over-reaction - glad he's out of the Bangkok Hilton. | Mell Mell Post Count: 15318 Msg: #14 44 weeks ago, February 25th 2009 | Those Thai prisons are so over crowded, which makes them even more miserable than the third world dungeons they are designed to be. Pity they dont solve the overcrowding problem by pardoning and deporting all the foreign prisoners. | Number of Users: 5 | Number of Posts: 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
