Just keep reminding yourself - Thailand is a democracy. "A Thai court on Monday sentenced an Australian writer to three years in jail after finding him guilty of insulting Thailand's revered royal family in a novel, a judge said."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... yal-family
isnt obeying the law part of democracy?
I bet he gets pardoned and released within a month.
Three years' jail for Thai royal insult Australian
* January 19, 2009 - 6:42PM AEDT
Sentenced ... Australian author Harry Nicolaides.
An Australian writer who says he's endured "unspeakable suffering'' in a Thai prison has been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to criminal charges of insulting the country's royal family.
But the family of Harry Nicolaides, 41, is hopeful a direct appeal for a pardon from the royal family may get the Melbourne-born author home.
A shackled Nicolaides was led into Bangkok's Criminal Court for the opening of his trial on Monday, and told reporters he would plead guilty.
Nicolaides' brother, Forde, said his brother would have been sentenced to six years in jail but his sentence was halved because of the guilty plea.
"We're devastated. You might be able to hear my mother crying in the background. It's quite devastating for us,'' he told AAP at home in Melbourne.
"The whole case has been a massive emotional ordeal that has consumed our entire family. It's beyond belief.
"We never expected him to be freed, but this is just the icing on the cake.''
Nicolaides was arrested last year under Thailand's severe lese majeste laws, mandating a jail term of three to 15 years for defaming, insulting or threatening the Royal family, over his 2005 novel Verisimilitude.
According to the Nicolaides family, only 50 copies of the book were published and less than 10 sold.
Nicolaides, a Melbourne resident who lived in the constitutional monarchy from 2003 to 2005 where he taught at the Mae Fah Luang University, has described his novel as a commentary on political and social life of contemporary Thailand.
"Tell my family I am very concerned,'' he told reporters as he entered the court, breaking down in tears.
He said he had endured "unspeakable suffering'' during his pre-trial detention since his arrest in August last year but did not elaborate.
Forde Nicolaides said his brother would not appeal the sentence.
"It is not Harry's intention to appeal, but he is considering a pardon application, which can occur through a mechanism directly with the palace,'' he said.
Diplomatic efforts to free Nicolaides had been "beefed up'' since last month, when his family criticised the Australian government's efforts in the case, Forde said.
Successive Thai governments have in recent months intensified the policing of laws against insulting the royal family. The country's lese majeste laws are some of the harshest in the world.
Thai authorities have banned nearly 4,000 websites in recent months for allegedly insulting the monarchy. Police said last week that more than 17 criminal cases of insulting the royal family are currently active.
AAP
Wombat : an Australian marsupial that eats,roots and leaves
Well it will only be a short time before we get a response from you know who, in latin
Whats this got to do with gay Thailand?
Wombat : an Australian marsupial that eats,roots and leaves
Yes, if everyone does it - high and low.Originally Posted by dave_syd
Harry was jailed for referring briefly to the activities of the CP, something every Thai knows.
Anyone interested in learning more could usefully google ""Thai people know about the prince very well."
.... a certain canine birthday party .... au naturel ...
If you are imagining a place where everyone obeys the law, that's all you're doing -- imaging.Yes, if everyone does it - high and low.
Democracy is in fact nothing more than a system of government in which the people hold power in a free election system. It has nothing to do with what percentage of the population obeys the law, and it does not preclude limitations on free speech (which the lese majeste law is). All democracies that I know of have limitations on free speech.
And which of those democracies have a state-sponsored personality cult supported by a limitation on free speech?
And which of those democracies have a state-sponsored personality cult supported by a limitation on free speech?
Iran and Turkey to name two.
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