Velvet Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Bet this guy wishes he'd only sold six books:http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/01/19/australian-thailand.htmlAustralian writer sentenced for insulting Thai kingLast Updated: Monday, January 19, 2009 | 7:32 AM ET Comments24Recommend18CBC News An Australian writer has been sentenced to three years in prison for insulting Thailand's royal family in a novel he wrote.Bangkok's Criminal Court handed Harry Nicolaides, 41, of Melbourne a six-year sentence, but the term was reduced because he entered a guilty plea, the judge said, according to the Associated Press.The charges stem from a passage in Nicolaides's 2005 Verisimilitude, which only sold seven copies, that allegedly insulted King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the crown prince.As he was escorted out of courtroom in handcuffs and shackles, Nicolaides said, "I would like to apologize."He said he has "unqualified respect" for the king of Thailand and didn't mean to insult him.The passage discusses the personal life of a fictional prince, and the presiding judge told the court it "suggested that there was abuse of royal power."Under Thailand's lese majesty law, insults against the monarchy garner penalties of three to 15 years behind bars.The 81-year-old King Bhumibol is the world's longest-serving monarch and is highly revered by Thais.Nicolaides was arrested Aug. 31 at Bangkok's international airport before boarding a flight home. Human rights groups say he was unaware of an arrest warrant issued for him back in March. He was indicted in November and denied bail.The Australian had lived in Thailand from 2003 to 2005 and taught in the northern city of Chiang Rai.He described his novel as commentary on the political and social life of contemporary Thailand.Nicolaides is not the first foreigner to be charged under Thailand's strict lese majesty law.In 2007, a Swiss man was given a 10-year prison sentence for defacing pictures of King Bhumibol while apparently drunk. His case marked the first conviction of a foreigner for lese majesty in at least a decade.Roland Jufer was later pardoned by the king after serving a month behind bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayr Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 That's absurd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 (edited) I just learned that there is a King of Thailand. cool.not cool however, is the fact that this guy would have no idea that there was such a law.http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-writer-jailed-for-insulting-thai-royals-20090119-7kty.html Edited January 19, 2009 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 i read the article. Nicolaides said although he had lived and worked in Thailand, he was ignorant of the consequences of the lese majeste law."I was aware an obscure law existed. I did not believe it would apply to me," he said."I didn't have the foresight to contemplate that my words would offend." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I guess if you're named Bhumibol and you become king you'd want to create a law like this to stop the inevitable Bhumibol/bummybowl jokes. None of which I'm sure are funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 You've just been tagged in Thailand Daveyboy...I'd steer clear of there for a while, at least till the heat cools off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I'd check the extradition laws if I were you Davey Boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 unless the connection's routed through thailand db should be fine for making fun of the great King Bummybowl.I wonder if he has staff on hand to slurp it up like a big noodle soup.mmm. basil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomouse Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I guess if you're named Bhumibol and you become king you'd want to create a law like this to stop the inevitable Bhumibol/bummybowl jokes. None of which I'm sure are funny. nope nothing funny 'bout that attle!you guys kill me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_llama Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 the king of thailand is a dummy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattm Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I remember when we got to thailand, my buddy and I were warned that if we went to the movies or something like that, the anthem would come on and that we HAD to stand and be respectful to the king, to do otherwise could result in jail or worse (and be respectful anytime we heard the anthem or saw a picture of the king and to never make fun of the king, even jokingly where no one can hear you).Now, we thought that sounded pretty absurd but also figured "when in rome..."I'm now glad someone mentioned that to us since they seem to take it quite seriously... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I was in Bangkok during the king's birthday one year. How do you say... PAR TAY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I just had an email from the Thai authorities and they're looking for the identities of Davey Boy and larry_llama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 tee hee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_llama Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 thanks god i route everything i do through a random firewall in russia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YearsAlongTheSea Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 A wise man once said: "Man who walks through airport door sideways is going to Bangkok."This is all quite silly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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