Thailand Jails U.S. Man For Insulting King

[NorthAmericanguy]

(AP)

BANGKOK - A court in Thailand sentenced a U.S. citizen to two and a half years in prison Thursday for defaming the country's royal family by translating excerpts of a locally banned biography of the king and posting them online.

The verdict is the latest so-called lese majeste punishment handed down in the Southeast Asian kingdom, which has come under increasing pressure at home and abroad to reform harsh legislation that critics say is an affront to freedom of expression.

The 55-year-old Thai-born American, Joe Gordon, stood calmly with his ankles shackled in an orange prison uniform as the sentence was read out at a Bangkok criminal court.

Judge Tawan Rodcharoen said the punishment, initially set at five years, was reduced because Gordon pleaded guilty in October.

The sentence was relatively light compared to other recent cases. In November, 61-year-old Amphon Tangnoppakul was sentenced to 20 years in jail for sending four text messages deemed offensive to the crown.

Gordon posted links the to banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej several years ago while living in the U.S. state of Colorado, and his case has raised questions about the applicability of Thai law to acts committed by foreigners outside Thailand.

Speaking after the verdict, Gordon said, "I am an American citizen, and what happened was in America."

He also said he had no expectation of being let off easy. "This is just the system in Thailand," he said. Speaking later in Thai, he added: "In Thailand, they put people in prison even if they don't have proof."

Gordon had lived in the U.S. for about 30 years. He was detained in late May during a visit to his native country to seek treatment for arthritis and high blood pressure. After being repeatedly denied bail, he pleaded guilty in October in hopes of obtaining a lenient sentence.

Thailand's lese majeste laws are the harshest in the world. They mandate that people found guilty of defaming the monarchy — including the king, the queen and the heir to the throne — face three to 15 years behind bars. The nation's 2007 Computer Crimes Act also contains provisions that have enabled prosecutors to increase lese majeste sentences.

The U.S. Embassy's consul general, Elizabeth Pratt, told reporters in Bangkok after the ruling that Washington considered Gordon's punishment "severe because he has been sentenced for his right to freedom of expression."

Opponents of the laws say that while the royal family should be protected from defamation, lese majeste laws have often been abused to punish political rivals. That is especially true since the nation suffered a 2006 military coup.

Asked if he would stay in Thailand after serving his time, Gordon said: "I would like to stay and see some positive Thailand. I want to see the real, amazing Thailand, not the messy Thailand."

Many had hoped that the administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which has some prominent supporters who have been accused of lese majeste, would reform the laws. The issue remains highly sensitive, however, and Yingluck's government has been as aggressive in pursuing the cases as its predecessors.

Last weekend, New York-based Human Rights Watch urged authorities to amend the laws, saying the penalties being meted out were "shocking."

The rise of the Internet in recent years has given Thai authorities many more targets to pursue. Last month, Information Minister Anudith Nakornthap said Facebook users who "share" or "like" content that insults the Thai monarchy are committing a crime. Anudith said Thai authorities asked Facebook to remove 86,000 pages between August and November because of alleged lese majeste content.

Gordon, a former car salesman, is accused of having translated excerpts from the unauthorized biography "The King Never Smiles," published by Yale University Press, into the Thai language and publishing them in a blog. He also provided links to the translation to two other Web forums, prosecutors say.

In the banned book, author Paul M. Handley retraces the king's life, alleging that he has been a major stumbling block to the progress of democracy in Thailand as he consolidated royal power over his long reign.

Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, is profoundly revered in Thailand and is widely seen as a stabilizing force. He was feted Monday on his 84th birthday, during which he called on his countrymen to unite in response to the worst floods in more than half a century.

The king is frail and has stayed at a Bangkok hospital for more than two years



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-573 ... ting-king/

[NorthAmericanguy]

BTW, I'm getting through the banned book myself and I can see why it's banned.

I had no idea the King of Thailand was born in America and knows how to speak better English then Thai.

I will say how these royal families preserve their bloodline/power is interesting. Royal Thai men have a harem of women! Try 80 children through 30+ women. Later on one man can have 500+ grand kids!

[E_Irizarry]

I'm glad that dude got knocked because Im' tired of Americans thinking they can criticize the whole world but nobody can criticize their ass-backwards way of life (e.g. criticizingly popping shit about the King of Thailand assuming that nothing would happen to him because he feels he's an American that's from the "greatest country in the world". What a joke.).

This example shows that not everybody bows down to America's pompousity.

Maybe if women can get raped on the job without any legal ramifications against the man, and that groping on public transportation is perfectly legal with or without consent, and that women will approach beta males giving them at least a shot at a LTR, etc. and etc. - then I would vouch for America to be the no. 1 place in the world to be!!

[green1976]

I don't see anything to be proud in transgressing the lese majeste laws in Thailand.
It's their country and they have their rules.

The US talk about freedom of speach lol what a joke it is.

If it's not the lese majeste laws in Thailand,NGO speak about these disgusting old fat western males who come to rape some poor female child of Thailand.
Everything to speak on the so bad disgusting testicular male libido.

There is no point to brag about the lese majeste laws,when as a male in the US,you get on a daily basis the female supremacist and their mangina walking on your dignity of human being.

Of course most males in the US i assume,doesn't seen any wrong in it and consider this as normal..this is why i point at them to be sick..as sick as females and as sick as the whole society where they live.

Even if i recognize them as mentally sick,i don't reserve the right to go to the US and for example promoting a Thai way of living.
I would never think to do this but that doesn't stop multiple NGO,religious zealot to come to Thailand and try to convert people there(especially females) so they would behave themselves like a typical American woman.

[zboy1]

I'm glad that dude got knocked because Im' tired of Americans thinking they can criticize the whole world but nobody can criticize their ass-backwards way of life (e.g. criticizingly popping shit about the King of Thailand assuming that nothing would happen to him because he feels he's an American that's from the "greatest country in the world". What a joke.).

This example shows that not everybody bows down to America's pompousity.

Maybe if women can get raped on the job without any legal ramifications against the man, and that groping on public transportation is perfectly legal with or without consent, and that women will approach beta males giving them at least a shot at a LTR, etc. and etc. - then I would vouch for America to be the no. 1 place in the world to be!!

I hate that smug superiority Americans carry with them to other countries. STFU, and fix the problems in the U.S. before criticizing other countries!

[ladislav]

The "US Man" is an immigrant from Thailand who got naturalized in the USA. Yeah, he is a US man, but I do not think the Thais may see it that way.

[MrPeabody]

I don't think this guy is a bad person. He did some valid research and the book is probably worth reading. It's always the little guy who doesn't do any harm but offends a powerful person who gets the harsh punishment. The big thugs always escape. The King is a major presence in Thailand and seems to be the only thing holding the country together. The NGOs are the real problem and are the vehicles used to assert Western imperialistic control on third world countries. Recently, there were some raids by the federalis on Tijuana bars under the pretext of Human Trafficking and the word is they were acting under pressure of International Laws (constructed by anglo feminists).

[Repatriate]

Just some things to consider when you're talking about Thailand:

The country ranks 80th on the corruption perceptions index. Which is similar to Colombia, China, and Peru. Thailand has actually gotten worse over the last few years.

Thailand never claimed to be a "free" country and in many ways it's very authoritarian in nature. Thais have developed this passive-aggressive culture for a reason. Everything is run by a traditional hierarchy that's oppressive when you are part of the society.

Thai culture is permissive about some things regarding sexuality, gender identity, etc.. but extremely anal retentive about other things. It's a culture that's full of rather extreme contradictions.

It's highly advisable that when you visit this country to not get involved with the politics or power structure in any way whether it be voicing your opinions or anything along those lines. Some expats get delusional and think they can make changes or have any kind of legitimate voice in this society and learn the hard way when they tamper with the wrong issues. NGOs have gotten kicked out of Thailand before for raising too much awareness about corruption or highlighting individual officials.

Journalists have gotten thrown in jail or outright murdered throughout Thailand's history.

[Repatriate]

The "US Man" is an immigrant from Thailand who got naturalized in the USA. Yeah, he is a US man, but I do not think the Thais may see it that way.

Probably not. Once you're a "Khun Thai" you're always going to be a Khun Thai. He's pretty screwed. I've been following this case for awhile since it's been widely publicized in the foreign press. His biggest problem is that he has dual nationality. This means he can't even appeal for a pardon on the basis of being an ignorant foreigner.

Thais probably view him as a traitor. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets abused in prison.