back to article Thai webmaster walks after insulting royals

If you plan to unleash the snark online over Jubilee weekend, spare a thought for a Thai webmaster Chiranuch Premchaiporn, who has just been sentenced to eight months porridge - thankfully suspended - for online statement deemed harmful to Thailand's monarchy. Campaigners against growing internet censorship in Thailand aren't …

COMMENTS

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Surely, true magistry....

    ....puts one above mere criticism.

    Amateurs!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Surely, true magistry....

      Usually the king does pardon people sent down for this sort of thong. Certainly for non nationals. However the Thai people take their royalty very seriously indeed.

      1. raving angry loony

        Re: Surely, true magistry....

        One can "take it seriously" without criminalizing criticism of the regime.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Well if they had the same laws here in the UK then the entire journalist population would be in jail, especially considering the comments made about the Royal Family, we'd have no newspapers at the very least.

    The Thai Royals do themselves no favours over this, freedom of expression is fundamental, suppress it and risk revolution.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      So you're saying we should implement such a law asap?

      I'm not sure the country could cope with such a sudden withdrawal of bullshit, lies, wilfully misinterpreted scientific reporting, narcissism and pretension.

      1. Bumpy Cat
        Happy

        Yes, the phrase "And nothing of value was lost" comes to mind. What would happen to all of the meeja grads, though?

      2. Irony Deficient

        Let not your heart be troubled.

        Anonymous Coward at 08:42 GMT, as long as El Reg remains available to host our comments, we have no need to fear for any such sudden withdrawal.

        Pretentiously yours,

        B. S. Liar, NSM*

        * — Narcissistic Willful Misinterpreter

    2. Fred Flintstone Gold badge

      Well if they had the same laws here in the UK then the entire journalist population would be in jail

      Let's not forget Have I Got News and Top Gear :)

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    @AC post #2

    A revolution? I don't see it happening anytime soon. Blind respect to the Royals is ingrained into the children's mind before they even start to learn the alphabet (yes, the thai language uses an alphabet). They're taught to consider the King as a semigod. It would take quite a few generations for Thais to rise against their monarchy.

    Honestly, I'm not so sure Bumiphol so much wants to hold on to these insane lese-majeste laws himself. Well, for once he's in such a bad shape that he probably hasn't too many moments of lucidity to think about this. These laws are used by the ruling elite and their ally the Queen to throw opponents into jail whenever they please. The yellows have brought the use of lese-majeste laws to a new level against the leaders of the red movement. Now that the reds are governing the country, they're so anxious of being accused of laxness that they're not helping any move towards something more sensible either. That would too easily be used to raise the people's opinion against them. Catch-22, vicious circle, total nonsense.

    AC because I really need.

  4. Mystic Megabyte
    Terminator

    Rough justice?

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I did hear this from a Thai friend.

    If you attempt to kill the King then 14 members of your family will be executed as well as yourself.

    This extends to your grandparents etc. on both mother and father sides. The idea is that if you think that your cousin is plotting treason you will hand him in to the cops.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Primitive third world justice systems!

    Thank God nothing like that would ever happen over here and people are free to make idiotic comments on twitter, without fear of arrest or imprisonment.

  6. Paw Bokenfohr
    Stop

    Less of the really bad language, please?

    I realise it's an emotive issue, but we're all adults (I hope) and we shouldn't need to use language like some people in these comments are, surely?

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