Author jailed for insulting Thai king

Nicolaides, 41, was bombarded with questions from foreign journalists as he arrived at the court Monday, wearing shackles as he stepped from a prison bus. In tears, he said he would plead guilty.

"Truth is stranger than fiction," he said. "It's been an ordeal for months. It feels like a bad dream." Watch shackled Nicolaides at court »

The Thai Criminal Court originally sentenced Nicolaides to six years in jail but cut the punishment in half because of the guilty plea. He listened calmly as the verdict was translated to him.

After hearing his verdict Nicolaides said: "I wish my family the best." Watch Nicolaides' brother's reaction »

One of his lawyers said no decision had been made about whether to appeal or seek a royal pardon. King Bhumibol Adulydej has pardoned foreigners in other similar cases in the past.

CNN has chosen not to repeat the allegations made by Nicolaides because it could result in CNN staff being prosecuted in Thailand.

Nicolaides had been living in Thailand since 2003, lecturing at two universities about tourism.

He was about to leave Thailand when he was arrested on August 31 last year. It is not clear why the authorities waited three years after the publication of his book to bring charges against him.

"I think there are individuals who have exploited an obscure law for their own self-interest," he said.

Only 50 copies of the book were published, and only seven were sold.

The law Nicolaides was convicted of breaking is section 112, known as the Lese Majeste law.

It says: "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years."

Thailand's king is highly revered in this Buddhist nation, but even he has said in the past that he can be criticized.

Thailand's new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, also told CNN he is concerned about the misuse of the Lese Majeste law.

"There are cases in the past where this law has been abused for political purposes, and I agree this has to stop," he said.

Despite the rhetoric there's little sign the prime minister will change the law. Other cases are pending against both foreigners and Thais.

CNN's Dan Rivers and Kocha Olarn in Bangkok contributed to this report


Article: HERE









by Dena Rash Guzman






READ about Dena Rash Guzman's trip to Thailand in the Winter Issue of Luciole Press:



Even the paintings of the King flashed with the pulse of something like God's own heartbeat.

One taxi driver stated that there are Christian Thais, Buddhist Thais, and Muslim Thais, but all Thais love their King. They do and so long as you visit, you better as well, or at least keep your trap shut if you don't. There are laws. The King of Thailand, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is a demi-god, revered, and from what I have come to understand, one hell of a humanitarian.







Dena's Page




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