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Thailand jails US man Joe Gordon for royal insult | Thailand jails US man Joe Gordon for royal insult |
(40 minutes later) | |
Thailand has jailed a US citizen for two and a half years after he admitted posting web links to a banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. | Thailand has jailed a US citizen for two and a half years after he admitted posting web links to a banned biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. |
Joe Gordon, a used car salesman from Colorado who was born in Thailand, admitted lese-majeste, or insulting the king, at an earlier hearing. | |
He was sentenced to five years in jail, but the judges halved the term because of his guilty plea. | He was sentenced to five years in jail, but the judges halved the term because of his guilty plea. |
The US consul general in Thailand said the sentence was "severe". | |
"He was given the sentence for his right of expression," Elizabeth Pratt told reporters. | |
"We continue to respect the Thai monarchy but we also support the right of expression which is internationally recognised as a human right." | |
Activists say the lese-majeste law has become increasingly politicised, and is used as a tool of repression rather than as a way of protecting the monarchy. | |
Royal pardon plea | |
Gordon, 55, reportedly translated parts of the widely available biography, The King Never Smiles by Paul Handley, several years ago and posted them on a blog while he was living in the US. | Gordon, 55, reportedly translated parts of the widely available biography, The King Never Smiles by Paul Handley, several years ago and posted them on a blog while he was living in the US. |
He was arrested in May when he visited Thailand for medical treatment. | He was arrested in May when he visited Thailand for medical treatment. |
He initially denied the charges, but said he changed his plea to guilty after being repeatedly refused bail. | He initially denied the charges, but said he changed his plea to guilty after being repeatedly refused bail. |
After being sentenced, he told the Bangkok court: "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." | After being sentenced, he told the Bangkok court: "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." |
His lawyer said he would not appeal against the sentence, but would ask for a royal pardon. | |
Foreigners convicted of lese majeste are routinely pardoned and deported shortly after being sentenced. | |
Prosecutions under the law have increased dramatically in recent years, amid chronic political instability. | |
And the authorities have passed a new law, the Computer Crimes Act, that increases their powers to tackle any perceived insults to the monarchy on the internet or through mobile phones. | And the authorities have passed a new law, the Computer Crimes Act, that increases their powers to tackle any perceived insults to the monarchy on the internet or through mobile phones. |
Last month a 61-year-old man was jailed for 20 years for sending four text messages that were deemed offensive to the Thai queen. | Last month a 61-year-old man was jailed for 20 years for sending four text messages that were deemed offensive to the Thai queen. |
The man said he did not even know how to send a text message, and rights groups expressed serious concern about his conviction. | The man said he did not even know how to send a text message, and rights groups expressed serious concern about his conviction. |
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 84, is the world's longest-reigning monarch and is revered as semi-divine by many Thais. | King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 84, is the world's longest-reigning monarch and is revered as semi-divine by many Thais. |
Anybody convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces long prison sentences. | Anybody convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces long prison sentences. |