MARBELLA CLUB

Lese majeste literally means an offense or crime committed against the ruler or supreme power of a state - or, in other words, the crime of dissent. In Thailand, this provision is routinely used to silence any form of criticism of the government.

A recent case that has been brought to our attention is that of Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn, from the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. He is facing Lese Majeste charges for writing a book A Coup for the Rich, which criticised the 2006 military coup. He also wrote an article on the coup for Asia Sentinel. Others who have been accused of Lese Majeste are former government minister Jakrapop Penkae, who asked a question at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Bangkok, about exactly what kind of Monarchy they have in Thailand. There is also the case of Chotisak Oonsung, a young student who failed to stand for the King’s anthem in the cinema. Apart from this there are the cases of Da Topedo and Boonyeun Prasertying. In addition to those who opposed the coup, the BBC correspondent Jonathan Head, an Australian writer names Harry Nicolaides and social critic Sulak Sivaraksa are also facing charges. The latest person to be thrown into jail and refused bail is Suwicha Takor, who is charged with Lese Majeste for surfing the internet.

The Thai Minister of Justice has called for a blanket ban on reporting these cases in the Thai media. The mainstream Thai media are obliging. Thus there is a medieval style witch hunt taking place in Thailand with secret trials in the courts.

Shuffling to the front of the court in leg chains, he said one muted word: "Guilty."
The judges sentenced Nicolaides to six years in prison, reduced to three because he pleaded guilty.Thailand is one of the few nations in the world to retain the archaic lese majeste law and the penalty is a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and a maximum of 15 years.Nicolaides' brother, Forde Nicolaides, said last night his family was extremely distressed at the outcome of the case."We will now do all that we can to ensure that Harry remains strong, healthy and positive in the circumstances," he said."Harry does not intend to appeal the decision but … wishes to focus … on considering an application for royal pardon."

writing three ill-conceived sentences in a novel that sold fewer than 10 copies, Melbourne man Harry Nicolaides was yesterday sentenced to three years in a Thai prison.

Barefoot, wearing leg shackles and looking drawn and weary, Nicolaides stood to hear his sentence.The would-be writer was arrested at Bangkok Airport on August 31 last year on charges of lese majeste — the crime of maligning the revered Thai monarchy.A book he had written in 2006, Verisimilitude, contained a brief reference to an unnamed crown prince. The passage was deemed insulting and a complaint was made to the police.On his way home to Melbourne in late August, the 41-year-old apparently had no idea a warrant for his arrest had been issued months earlier.Nicolaides was charged, repeatedly denied bail and finally brought to a Bangkok court yesterday for his long-awaited trial.
Hyperventilating and crying, Nicolaides said his time in prison has been "torture". "This has to be a bad dream," he said. "I've faced uncertainty for five months." 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."Since his arrest, Nicolaides has been held in a cell along with dozens of Thai prisoners. His family fears his health is failing and the emotional pressure is taking its toll.With his voice catching, he went on to say he had no idea who had filed the complaint against him. He had no intention of insulting the king, he said, and he respected the king as he respected his father."Words are empty vessels that we fill with meaning; the person who made that complaint filled those words with meaning all their own," he said.
The judges were forced to impose a jail term when Nicolaides declined to fight the case