Joe Gordon, who was born in Thailand but has lived in the us within the last thirty years, was found guilty of translating and posting online servings of a book, “The King Never Smiles,” which is published by Yale University Press and banned in Thailand.
If you are unaware of the latest Thailand Breaking News, make sure you check these excellent reports on Thailand News and Thailand Breaking News.
The number of so-called lèse-majesté cases has sharply increased in Thailand in recent times, a time period of political turmoil and divisions concerning the desolate man the monarchy.
Mr. Gordon’s case is unusual as he was surviving in the us when he uploaded chapters from the book online.
Elizabeth Pratt, the consul general with the U.S. Embassy who attended the sentencing, asserted america was “troubled” with all the verdict, but she stopped in short supply of calling for Mr. Gordon to become freed.
“We are extremely interested in the degree of the sentence that's been imposed on Joe Gordon,” she said. “We keep having full respect for that Thai monarchy, and now we like to support the right to freedom of expression, which is an internationally recognized human right.”
Mr. Gordon, 54, initially denied the fees but in October pleaded guilty.
He will request a royal pardon, said his lawyer, Arnon Nampa.
The sentence could have been more harsh had Mr. Gordon pleaded innocent, Mr. Arnon said. Before the sentencing, Mr. Gordon was repeatedly denied bail.
“You must choose between the rule of law or freedom,” Mr. Arnon said in a interview as soon as the verdict was presented down. “Because if he previously planned to continue fighting the case, however come in jail for about another year without bail.”
Judge Tawan Rodcharoen said the judge had shown leniency because Mr. Gordon pleaded guilty. The sentence, which would are already 5yrs, was cut by 50 %, the judge said.
Mr. Gordon, whose Thai name is Lerpong Wichaicommart, was arrested in May throughout a stop by at his hometown in northeastern Thailand.
Wearing an orange prison uniform and shackled with leg irons, he hesitated on Thursday when answering reporters’ questions. “In Thailand, they put people imprisonment even if they don’t have proof,” he was quoted saying. “I am not gonna fight. I don’t believe” - he stopped himself.
A prison official sitting close to Mr. Gordon whispered to him in Thai.
“Don’t say everything else concerning this,” said the prison official, Wiroj Nuyom. “It might affect your royal pardon. And you also may be struggling.”
“The King Never Smiles,” authored by a journalist, Paul M. Handley, can be a detailed biography of King Bhumibol. It argues the king has led a restoration of royal power in Thailand which has impeded the development of democracy.
The king, who's been hospitalized for longer than 2 yrs with some other ailments, marked his 84th birthday on Monday in a gilded ceremony marked by fanfare and adulation.
After a lot more than six decades for the throne, many Thais provide an unquestioning loyalty toward the king.
Ardent supporters in the monarchy have led a web based campaign to stamp out criticism, hard work that's been with a crackdown on royal insults by government Internet censors.
If you are unaware of the latest Thailand Breaking News, make sure you check these excellent reports on Thailand News and Thailand Breaking News.
“If you don’t like His Majesty the King, Chance to find the this - escape here,” one YouTube user, LimitedSaur, said in the video. “You’d better live someplace else but Thailand.”
If you are unaware of the latest Thailand Breaking News, make sure you check these excellent reports on Thailand News and Thailand Breaking News.
The number of so-called lèse-majesté cases has sharply increased in Thailand in recent times, a time period of political turmoil and divisions concerning the desolate man the monarchy.
Mr. Gordon’s case is unusual as he was surviving in the us when he uploaded chapters from the book online.
Elizabeth Pratt, the consul general with the U.S. Embassy who attended the sentencing, asserted america was “troubled” with all the verdict, but she stopped in short supply of calling for Mr. Gordon to become freed.
“We are extremely interested in the degree of the sentence that's been imposed on Joe Gordon,” she said. “We keep having full respect for that Thai monarchy, and now we like to support the right to freedom of expression, which is an internationally recognized human right.”
Mr. Gordon, 54, initially denied the fees but in October pleaded guilty.
He will request a royal pardon, said his lawyer, Arnon Nampa.
The sentence could have been more harsh had Mr. Gordon pleaded innocent, Mr. Arnon said. Before the sentencing, Mr. Gordon was repeatedly denied bail.
“You must choose between the rule of law or freedom,” Mr. Arnon said in a interview as soon as the verdict was presented down. “Because if he previously planned to continue fighting the case, however come in jail for about another year without bail.”
Judge Tawan Rodcharoen said the judge had shown leniency because Mr. Gordon pleaded guilty. The sentence, which would are already 5yrs, was cut by 50 %, the judge said.
Mr. Gordon, whose Thai name is Lerpong Wichaicommart, was arrested in May throughout a stop by at his hometown in northeastern Thailand.
Wearing an orange prison uniform and shackled with leg irons, he hesitated on Thursday when answering reporters’ questions. “In Thailand, they put people imprisonment even if they don’t have proof,” he was quoted saying. “I am not gonna fight. I don’t believe” - he stopped himself.
A prison official sitting close to Mr. Gordon whispered to him in Thai.
“Don’t say everything else concerning this,” said the prison official, Wiroj Nuyom. “It might affect your royal pardon. And you also may be struggling.”
“The King Never Smiles,” authored by a journalist, Paul M. Handley, can be a detailed biography of King Bhumibol. It argues the king has led a restoration of royal power in Thailand which has impeded the development of democracy.
The king, who's been hospitalized for longer than 2 yrs with some other ailments, marked his 84th birthday on Monday in a gilded ceremony marked by fanfare and adulation.
After a lot more than six decades for the throne, many Thais provide an unquestioning loyalty toward the king.
Ardent supporters in the monarchy have led a web based campaign to stamp out criticism, hard work that's been with a crackdown on royal insults by government Internet censors.
If you are unaware of the latest Thailand Breaking News, make sure you check these excellent reports on Thailand News and Thailand Breaking News.
“If you don’t like His Majesty the King, Chance to find the this - escape here,” one YouTube user, LimitedSaur, said in the video. “You’d better live someplace else but Thailand.”
It looks as if he deserved this
ReplyDeleteYour blog does supply a lot of hot news. Good job.