20-Year Sentence for Text Messages Against Thai King - Polidicks

[release] BANGKOK — A retired truck driver was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Wednesday for sending cellphone text messages that a court deemed insulting to The conviction is the latest in a growing number of cases in Thailand under a law imposing harsh penalties for making insults or threats directed at King [URL="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/bhumibol_adulyadej/index.html?inline=nyt-per"]Bhumibol Adulyadej[/URL], 83, and his family, even in private communications. The defendant, Ampon Tangnoppakul, 61, was sentenced to five years in prison for each message, according to one of his lawyers, Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, who said his client denied sending any messages. “He insists that he does not know how to send text messages,” Ms. Poonsuk said by telephone. “He insists that he loves His Majesty the King.” The judge ruled that the text messages, which were sent to a senior government official, defamed, insulted and threatened the king and his wife, Queen Sirikit. The contents of the messages were not revealed in court. The judge rejected Mr. Ampon’s assertion that his phone was being repaired around the time the messages were sent last May, a time of political tumult in the streets of Bangkok that Thai officials said coincided with a rise in criticism of the monarchy. Earlier this year the government [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world/asia/03iht-thailand03.html"]set up a “war room”[/URL] to shut down Web sites carrying material deemed insulting to the royal family. Prosecutors are also using the country’s lèse-majesté laws more aggressively. “There’s been a huge increase in the number of cases going before the courts,” said David Streckfuss, a scholar who specializes in the issue. Mr. Ampon was not in the courtroom on Wednesday because the prison where he is being held is surrounded by floodwaters. He watched the judge deliver his sentence over a video link, his lawyer said.[/release] [URL]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/world/asia/20-year-term-for-text-messages-against-thai-king-bhumibol.html[/URL] 20 years, really?

"Omggg the king is being a dick with all these new laws and urrrestin' ppl he thnks are bad" Sent. [B] 20 Years.[/B]

Late... And if you had a search you'd find that all the persons whom were convicted under this silly law were pardoned. ;)

The time to get Anonymous is now. [QUOTE=Gishank;33491167]Late... And if you had a search you'd find that all the persons whom were convicted under this silly law were pardoned. ;)[/QUOTE] Or not.

Not suprising for a third world country

[QUOTE=JohnFisher89;33491187]Not suprising for a third world country[/QUOTE] Hey bud. Your country isn't really the ideal country either.

Punishment at all, really?

[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;33492030]At least its not third world.[/QUOTE] not yet

[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;33492030]At least its not third world.[/QUOTE] Thailand isn't third world. Its still a developing country.

It's a 1.5 country.

[QUOTE=Bomimo;33492012]Hey bud. Your country isn't really the ideal country either.[/QUOTE] Comparing country that imprisons people for blasphemy against King to United States. Stay classy.

Kind of reminds me of how Australia bans everything. Except this is much much worse. This calls for a revolution!

Thought police :/

[QUOTE=dass;33492355] This calls for a revolution![/QUOTE] Not exactly. The king is revered in Thailand, only the politicians get booted out by revolutions mostly.

Man, these people should watch what they are Thai-ping

The Thai king sucks! Now arrest me.

[QUOTE=Bomimo;33492012]Hey bud. Your country isn't really the ideal country either.[/QUOTE] Yeah because the EU is so much better

[QUOTE=JohnFisher89;33493638]Yeah because the EU is so much better[/QUOTE] Here we go again!

[QUOTE=Alien_23;33492266]Thailand isn't third world. Its still a developing country.[/QUOTE] From wikipedia [Quote=Wikipedia]The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO (which along with its allies represented the First World), or communism and the Soviet Union (which along with its allies represented the Second World).[/Quote] [Quote=Wikipedia]The politics of Thailand is currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state.[/Quote]

[QUOTE=Bomimo;33492012]Hey bud. Your country isn't really the ideal country either.[/QUOTE] Ya think? [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b3GHoGMBNpY/SwIeZYkpakI/AAAAAAAAEuM/mdMYT3uprbQ/s1600/Michele+Bachmann+For+President+In+2012.jpg[/img] When batshit crazy christofascist fanatics are eligible choices for [I][B]President[/B][/I]... :suicide:

Who's that fine lady.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;33494107]Who's that fine lady.[/QUOTE] A batshit crazy christofascist fanatic who is an eligible choice for President.

Who needs freedom of speech in a democracy Herp

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;33491178]The time to get Anonymous is now. [/QUOTE] lmao what are they even going to do anonymous is a joke of a community, not some big terrifying force of justice

[QUOTE=Cuon Alpinus;33494158]A batshit crazy christofascist fanatic who is an eligible choice for President.[/QUOTE] mmm the ideal woman.

[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;33495420]mmm the ideal woman.[/QUOTE] [img]http://babyboomeradvisorclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Michelle%20Bachmann%20Eating%20a%20Corn%20Dog%20in%20Iowa.jpg[/img] [editline]29th November 2011[/editline] I really feel ashamed knowing 'Michelle Bachmann corndog' is in my Google image history. Not worth it.

[QUOTE=HawkeyeTy;33495661][img]http://babyboomeradvisorclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Michelle%20Bachmann%20Eating%20a%20Corn%20Dog%20in%20Iowa.jpg[/img] [editline]29th November 2011[/editline] I really feel ashamed knowing 'Michelle Bachmann corndog' is in my Google image history. Not worth it.[/QUOTE] enf enf more!

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/qcmS1.png[/IMG]

I love Thai food.

Bhumibol Adulyadej and Kim Jong Il would be great friends. Do I smell a gay relationship brewing?