insulting the King

[RealGun]

Thinking about civil rights, the next time you feel like everything really bites, think about the implications of this story and how things could be worse. Bush bashing could actually be illegal.

Man Gets 10 Years in Thai Graffiti Case

 

[K3]

Link no worky.

 

[Sindawe]

Text of article about this

Man gets 10 years in Thai graffiti case

By RUNGRAWEE C. PINYORAT Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — A Swiss man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for spray-painting graffiti over images of Thailand's revered king, the first conviction of a foreigner in at least a decade under strict Thai laws protecting the monarchy.

Oliver Rudolf Jufer, 57, who had pleaded guilty to five counts of lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, had faced a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison.

Judge Phitsanu Tanbukalee said Jufer was given a reduced sentence since he had admitted his wrongdoing.

His court-appointed lawyer, Komkrit Kunyodying, called the penalty "appropriate for the crime he has committed," adding he did not yet know if his client planned to appeal.

The Swiss Embassy issued a tempered criticism.

"We respect the Thai justice system," said Jacques Lauer, deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Bangkok. "However, we consider the implementation of the Thai penal code regarding lese majeste cases a tough one."

Jufer was caught by surveillance cameras on Dec. 5 spray-painting black paint over five outdoor posters of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where he lived, police and prosecutors said. His lawyer said he was intoxicated during the act.

Bhumibol, the world's longest serving monarch, is greatly loved by Thais and regarded by some as semi-divine. He is protected from reproach by strict laws that forbid any criticism of the monarchy.

The vandalism coincided with Bhumibol's 79th birthday, which was celebrated across Thailand with fireworks and prayers.

Jufer, who was shackled at the ankles and dressed in an orange prison uniform, was expressionless as the verdict was announced. He made no comment to reporters as he was ushered out of the courtroom.

His case casts a rare spotlight on Thailand's strict lese majeste laws, which have remained virtually unchanged since the country's first criminal code in 1908 despite the overthrow of an absolute monarchy in 1932.

Jufer's March 12 hearing was closed to the media to minimize publicity of his offense against the king, but journalists were allowed into Thursday's sentencing.

Thai television and newspapers have relied on foreign news agencies to cover the trial. The Thai media and people in general almost never make controversial comments about the king in public.

Bangkok's Criminal Court said its national database, which goes back a decade, showed that no foreigner had been convicted of lese majeste charges in at least 10 years. A handful of foreigners have faced similar charges in the past, but most eventually were deported to their home countries.

Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4670720.html

 

[RealGun]

Try this source.

BBC version of the story

 

[Mainsail]

A Swiss man was sentenced to 10 years in prison...

His court-appointed lawyer, Komkrit Kunyodying, called the penalty "appropriate for the crime he has committed," adding he did not yet know if his client planned to appeal.

Free lawyer, and worth every penny!

 

[BigG]

the next time you feel like everything really bites, think about the implications of this story and how things could be worse. Bush bashing could actually be illegal.

Huh? How do you figure something in Thailand applies to the USA? :banghead:

 

[MatthewVanitas]

If they hadn't outlawed Internet gambling in the U.S., I'd be big on gambling on the news.

I'd put down $10 on the following scenario:

--They play this out a bit to save face, let him sit in jail a month or so, and then the King steps in and says "By my amazing mercy, I hereby pardon this silly foreigner and boot him out of My country".

That way, the civil authorities look tough, and the king looks merciful.

Whole different culture, innit?

-MV

 

[Libertylover]

So it could be worse, so what? What's the point? Because if your argument is "It could be worse, so **** and deal with the relatively minor injustices we suffer here" than I would say you are wrong. This kind of thing only validates those who do something about the tiny injustices here NOW, rather than waiting for those tiny injustices to develop into HUGE injustices like this in the future.

Bad models such as this should be looked to as what we're trying to avoid, and as a reason to SPEAK UP instead of SHUT UP because we have it better than those guys.

Sorry if I got the meaning wrong, I'm just in a philosophizing mood today.

 

[BigG]

Ask yourself what a 57 year-old Swiss is doing in Thailand. There could be a multitude of reasons but typically it has to do with a couple well known trades. I will not specify because this is the High Road.

I apologize if I offended anyone.

 

[RealGun]

Huh? How do you figure something in Thailand applies to the USA?

I didn't think it was that obtuse. You can't understand the US without contrasting it with the alternatives in the rest of the world, count your blessings, and all that. Sorry if I injected a little positive thinking here.

 

[Brian Williams]

BigG, Your post was uncalled for, I nknow that a lot of jusk happens there but Thailand has some great vacation spots and some of the best health care in the east many Europeans go there because their money buys a lot of resort places that back home they can not afford. ChangMai is also a gateway to China and he might have businesss connections in China and live in Thailand.
SOOO BigG keep it THR.


My bosses wife is from Thailand and he often tells a story about when he was stationed in Thailand, an American soldier who dropped a Thai coin, with the requisite picture of said monarch on it, and true to American form he promptly stomped on it. Some Thai's took offence and reported him to the local authoritys and he was arrested. I am not sure what eventually happened to him but he did get some jail time along with a good beating for the local Police.

 

[RNB65]

What? No Richard Petty story?

 

[AndyC]

"It's good to be the king..."

 

[Axman]

Insult The King? Okay...

Elvis was a NARC!!!

 

[Elza]

MatthewVanitas: They play this out a bit to save face, let him sit in jail a month or so, and then the King steps in and says "By my amazing mercy, I hereby pardon this silly foreigner and boot him out of My country".

I wouldn’t be too sure of this. I spent a year-and-a-half in Thailand in the mid ‘70’s. In those days, the Thai people were fairly forgiving of us “round eyes”. They realized that we were of a different culture and were really nice about it. Pointing your foot at someone or stepping on a coin wouldn’t get you ostracized or jailed. They would, in a nice way, point out that you shouldn’t do it. However, intentionally defacing or deriding the King would get you tossed into jail even then. I doubt that it is any different today. The King is not just the leader of their country he is their spiritual leader as well. And the Thai people are VERY serious about their religion. I suspect that he will be in the jug for some time.

 

[nobody_special]

It's not that bad here, but you will get tossed in jail for protesting the president if he's giving a speech...

 

[50 Freak]

Ask yourself what a 57 year-old Swiss is doing in Thailand. Probably abusing young boys. I would call him an undesirable. But that is one of the only reasons I know that Euros go to Thailand.

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. I've been to Thailand many many times and plan to buy a retirement home there. Nothing like a strong US currency and a tropical paradise with good food, tons of culture and world class scuba diving. Not to mention Thailand is one of the few countries out there that actually love Americans.

As for this idiot that defaced the King's portrait.

TOP RULE FOR GETTING ALONG IN THAILAND: DON'T SCREW WITH THE KING.

Thais are very passionate about their King. He's considered one of the best kings in thier history and he's getting up to where he will pass the throne soon. Thais are worried right now about the Prince as he's seen as a womanizer and a party animal. Whereas this King was seen as a reformer and a supporter of the common people. I believe this King is the first to only have one wife in Thailand's history. She was a simple village girl and she is also held in very high esteem.

Although I agree the sentence is a little harsh, I completely agree with it. Also note: this idiot painted black paint over the King's portrait. That's seen as wishing death to the King....Another big no no.

 

[Thin Black Line]

Whatever happened to the Chinese-American lady who gave the Chinese
prime minister a very public earful while he was visiting Bush in DC?

 

[molonlabe]

And this has to do with firearms, how?

 

[joab]

TOP RULE FOR GETTING ALONG IN THAILAND: DON'T SCREW WITH THE KING.

Their country their rules, if you don't like it don't visit.

If he had been in America and hit someone for insulting the king would we not expect him to be dealt with under U.S. law.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I expected to see something about the man in Colorado who was arrested and charged with assault after telling Dick Cheney that his "Iraq policies are reprehensible."

But still no tie-in to firearms, I guess. Threadlock in 5... 4... 3...

 

[geekWithA.45]

Oh, the {bleeping} Thai king can go {bleep} himself.


{Shakes head}


Yeah, I know, local laws & customs, rule of law, when in Rome, and all that, but that doesn't make it right. No one is above criticism.

Don't get me wrong. I have no personal beef w/ the king of Thailand. I'm sure he's a peach. I'm just observing the general principle that people who hold themselves to be de-facto or de-jure above reproach ought to be reproached.

If Jufer were to be the recipient of a deus ex machina jailbreak, I'd cheer.

 

[Mk VII]

Nor may you criticise other monarchs, because that reflects on the dignity of kingship, and by implication of the King.

 

[Sindawe]

Nor may you criticise other monarchs, because that reflects on the dignity of kingship, and by implication of the King.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Everytime I hear of Kings, Princes and such, I can't help but think of the following (paraphrased)

Rajadharma: The Duty of Leaders. Know You: Leadership is a trust. The Leader is the most exalted and conscientious servant of the people.

-Glen Cook "Water Sleeps (Book Three of Glittering Stone)"/Chronicles of The Black Company

From what little I've read and know of the King of Thailand, he's acted in accordance to this.

 

[cambeul41]

I lived in Thailand from 1965 to 1972 . . .

teaching English and Taekwondo. Once the king walked into a TKD class as I was teaching it.

Had he done what he did at that time, the worst thing that could have been done to Jufer would be to inform the public as to what he had done and the release date and time of his release. I am sure he would have been killed by someone who believed he was performing a public service.

It is not only the laws that vary between countries, but also the attitudes of the citizenry about such matters.

To make this firearms relevant, most of the people I knew carried concealed in those days: on the road past ChiangMai University, the police said that a stop and search would have revealed that 2/3 of all men and 1/3 of the women carried.