US man faces 15 years in jail for insulting Thai monarchy - Thai-born Lerpong Wichaikhammat wants Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression
An American citizen has pleaded guilty to insulting Thailand's monarchy, an offence that carries up to 15 years in prison. Lerpong Wichaikhammat, who also calls himself Joe W Gordon, has asked Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression.
Thailand has the world's toughest laws on lese-majesty – insulting the monarchy – and many of its people regard King Bhumibol Adulyadej as almost divine.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, which has the world's toughest laws on lese-majesty. Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA
Thai-born Lerpong, 55, was charged with using the internet to disseminate information that insults or threatens the monarchy after he translated an article and posted it on his blog.
He was also accused of providing a web link to a controversial biography of 83-year-old Bhumibol by aUS author. The book is banned in Thailand.
"I plead guilty because no one can win the case," Lerpong told journalists in the court. The judges will give their verdict on 9 November.
"I have no chance. I want the American government to help release me. This is a case of freedom of expression."
Lerpong, a dual Thai-American citizen, was also charged with contravening the country's computer crimes laws. When he was arrested in May he denied all charges.
The US embassy in Bangkok said he was receiving consular assistance.
Critics say the laws are being abused to discredit activists and politicians, and the number of cases, especially those lodged by the military, has jumped in recent years.
The law has been a regular feature of the charged political atmosphere in Thailand in the past five years. The generals who overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006 cited his alleged disrespect for the monarchy among other reasons.
David Streckfuss, a Thai-based scholar who monitors lese-majesty cases, has said 397 known cases were submitted to the criminal court between 2006 and 2009. In the 15 years before that, there were four or five cases a year.
Criticism of the lese-majesty law is taboo, as is public disclosure of the nature of an alleged offence. Local media rarely report arrests or convictions related to royal insults.
The king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, is a respected unifying figure and moral arbiter in Thailand. He has been hospitalised since September 2009, making only rare appearances, and the army goes to great lengths to protect him.
In April army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered subordinates to lodge lese-majesty complaints against three leaders of the pro-Thaksin redshirt movement and told army-owned Channel 5 television to devote more air time to royal programmes.
A government led by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has since taken power after an election in July. ( guardian.co.uk )
An American citizen has pleaded guilty to insulting Thailand's monarchy, an offence that carries up to 15 years in prison. Lerpong Wichaikhammat, who also calls himself Joe W Gordon, has asked Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression.
Thailand has the world's toughest laws on lese-majesty – insulting the monarchy – and many of its people regard King Bhumibol Adulyadej as almost divine.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, which has the world's toughest laws on lese-majesty. Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA
Thai-born Lerpong, 55, was charged with using the internet to disseminate information that insults or threatens the monarchy after he translated an article and posted it on his blog.
He was also accused of providing a web link to a controversial biography of 83-year-old Bhumibol by aUS author. The book is banned in Thailand.
"I plead guilty because no one can win the case," Lerpong told journalists in the court. The judges will give their verdict on 9 November.
"I have no chance. I want the American government to help release me. This is a case of freedom of expression."
Lerpong, a dual Thai-American citizen, was also charged with contravening the country's computer crimes laws. When he was arrested in May he denied all charges.
The US embassy in Bangkok said he was receiving consular assistance.
Critics say the laws are being abused to discredit activists and politicians, and the number of cases, especially those lodged by the military, has jumped in recent years.
The law has been a regular feature of the charged political atmosphere in Thailand in the past five years. The generals who overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006 cited his alleged disrespect for the monarchy among other reasons.
David Streckfuss, a Thai-based scholar who monitors lese-majesty cases, has said 397 known cases were submitted to the criminal court between 2006 and 2009. In the 15 years before that, there were four or five cases a year.
Criticism of the lese-majesty law is taboo, as is public disclosure of the nature of an alleged offence. Local media rarely report arrests or convictions related to royal insults.
The king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, is a respected unifying figure and moral arbiter in Thailand. He has been hospitalised since September 2009, making only rare appearances, and the army goes to great lengths to protect him.
In April army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered subordinates to lodge lese-majesty complaints against three leaders of the pro-Thaksin redshirt movement and told army-owned Channel 5 television to devote more air time to royal programmes.
A government led by Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has since taken power after an election in July. ( guardian.co.uk )
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