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BANGKOK
(Reuters) - A U.S. citizen was jailed for two-and-a-half years on
Thursday for insulting the Thai monarchy, prompting the U.S. Embassy to
speak out at the severity of the sentence and say it supported the
freedom of expression everywhere in the world.
Thai-born Lerpong Wichaikhammat, 55, had pleaded guilty in October to
using the Internet to disseminate information that insulted the
monarchy, charges stemming from material posted on his blog in the
United States, where he has citizenship.
He was arrested in May during a visit to Thailand.
"The defendant is found guilty ... The court sentenced him to five
years in prison. But he pleaded guilty. That makes the case easier, so
the court decided to cut it in half to 2 years and six months," a judge
said at the criminal court in Bangkok.
Thailand has the world's toughest lese-majeste laws protecting its
monarch. The number of cases has jumped in recent years and sentences
have become harsher, coinciding with a period of political turbulence in
the country.
Lerpong's lawyer, Anon Nampa, said there would be no appeal against
the verdict. "One month from now, we'll submit a request for a royal
pardon," he added.
Other foreigners who have fallen foul of the lese-majeste law in
recent years have tended to spend a short period in jail before being
pardoned. Thais have not got off so lightly, one recently getting 20
years for text messages deemed offensive.
Elisabeth Pratt, consul general at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, said
Joe Gordon -- the name Lerpong goes by -- was an American citizen and
would continue to get consular help.
"We're very concerned over the severity of the sentence that has been
imposed on Joe Gordon. We support the freedom of expression here in
Thailand and internationally throughout the world," she told reporters
at the court.
Lerpong was also accused of providing a web link to a biography by an
American author of 84-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej that is banned
in Thailand, where many people regard the king as almost divine.
Before the verdict was read out, Lerpong was allowed to speak to reporters.
"I'm not Thai, I'm American. I was just born in Thailand. I hold an
American passport. In Thailand there are many laws that don't allow you
to express opinions but we don't have that in America," he said.
Critics say the law is being abused to discredit activists and politicians.
The generals who overthrew former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
in 2006 cited his alleged disrespect for the monarchy among other
reasons.
"Personally I don't know Thaksin and usually I don't get involved in politics," Lerpong said. "I'm proud to be American."
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Jutarat Skulpichetrat and
Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Enlarge PhotoLerpong arrives at the Bangkok Criminal Court
BANGKOK
(Reuters) - A U.S. citizen was jailed for two-and-a-half years on
Thursday for insulting the Thai monarchy, prompting the U.S. Embassy to
speak out at the severity of the sentence and say it supported the
freedom of expression everywhere in the world.
Thai-born Lerpong Wichaikhammat, 55, had pleaded guilty in October to
using the Internet to disseminate information that insulted the
monarchy, charges stemming from material posted on his blog in the
United States, where he has citizenship.
He was arrested in May during a visit to Thailand.
"The defendant is found guilty ... The court sentenced him to five
years in prison. But he pleaded guilty. That makes the case easier, so
the court decided to cut it in half to 2 years and six months," a judge
said at the criminal court in Bangkok.
Thailand has the world's toughest lese-majeste laws protecting its
monarch. The number of cases has jumped in recent years and sentences
have become harsher, coinciding with a period of political turbulence in
the country.
Lerpong's lawyer, Anon Nampa, said there would be no appeal against
the verdict. "One month from now, we'll submit a request for a royal
pardon," he added.
Other foreigners who have fallen foul of the lese-majeste law in
recent years have tended to spend a short period in jail before being
pardoned. Thais have not got off so lightly, one recently getting 20
years for text messages deemed offensive.
Elisabeth Pratt, consul general at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, said
Joe Gordon -- the name Lerpong goes by -- was an American citizen and
would continue to get consular help.
"We're very concerned over the severity of the sentence that has been
imposed on Joe Gordon. We support the freedom of expression here in
Thailand and internationally throughout the world," she told reporters
at the court.
Lerpong was also accused of providing a web link to a biography by an
American author of 84-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej that is banned
in Thailand, where many people regard the king as almost divine.
Before the verdict was read out, Lerpong was allowed to speak to reporters.
"I'm not Thai, I'm American. I was just born in Thailand. I hold an
American passport. In Thailand there are many laws that don't allow you
to express opinions but we don't have that in America," he said.
Critics say the law is being abused to discredit activists and politicians.
The generals who overthrew former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
in 2006 cited his alleged disrespect for the monarchy among other
reasons.
"Personally I don't know Thaksin and usually I don't get involved in politics," Lerpong said. "I'm proud to be American."
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Jutarat Skulpichetrat and
Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Nick Macfie)