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The Times news article is here...
I understand that these laws exist but the prosecution of them seem a bit heavy handed to me.
This thread is to discus the law and it's enactment and NOT the Thai Monarch...
Below are some comments from The Times website...
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Thailand's less majeste laws they do exist. Anyone involved in publishing is acutely aware of what is and isn't allowed. The author himself admitted he was aware but I cannot understand how he could have thought the laws didn't apply in his case?
Andrew, Bangkok, Thailand
It seems the government doesn't like it when their King is offended or disrespected (which is fair enough but maybe the punishment's a little harsh) but like the article states, how ironic that the King disagrees with that particular law himself. Surely Mr. Nicolaides will be released shortly.
Tom, Sydney, Australia
Have spent quite a bit of time in Thailand, and knowing the Thai people love their king, I am still quite disturbed to learn of Nicolaides fate and even the existence of such a law. For a country that lives on westerners tourism this is a foolish move. I for one will not spend another dime there.
Bob Cauley, New York, USA
He knew the law but he ignored it. He was a lecturer, He could have published his book when he left Thailand. I've been in Singapore many times, i couldn't chew a gum and i didn't because I respect the law in Singapore. learn culture before saying anything.
Pimm S., Bangkok, Thailand
Every country around the world has its own laws and customs so it's probably better to play with caution whilst in that country and not risk being arrested for anything but I hope Harry is pardoned as soon as possible. Murderers have been given lighter sentences than that. Freedom of speech rules!
Donna, Kos, Greece
"lese majeste" laws - I would recommend U.N. sanctions, that tourist groups recommend none of their clientele visit this country, IMF cut off any funding, and then the embassys request unconditional releases. Finally, these offenders need to apologize - they were impolite guests.
Jeff Dunham, Yacolt, USA
It is wrong that a Western author feels that he has the right to comment on the royal family of Thailand and to attack a system that has been in place for hundreds of years. Westerners need to step back and think before comparing their ideals to Asian ones. Nicolaides, I feel you got off lucky.
Anna, Tauranga, New Zealand
He lived in the country for 2 years...he was well aware of the lese majeste law. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand for 2 years and we were all well aware of the law and the enormous respect the Thai people have for their King within days of arriving in the country.
Jeffrey, PetoskeyUSA,
Hard to believe he did not see this coming. You simply do not bring up the monarchy at all in Thailand if you are not Thai, even in normal conversation. Any Thai can lodge a heresay complaint against you at any time, you have to be this careful.
Dan, Glendale,
There is no way that this guy could have worked in Thailand and not known how serious it is to insult the king, let alone put it in print. The king, himself, actually says he is not above criticism and will probably pardon him within a month.
Lee, Kyiv, Ukraine
Why would someone think that the laws of the land don't apply to you, when you are in that country? I feel for Nicolaides, but it was arrogant to behave as such. He could've published his book once he left the country. This is a tragedy that needn't have happened.
elisabeth, seattle, usa
It is their right to have their own laws. It is our right to cut off all financial connections they have with our countries.
Robert, Halifax, Canada
It is a disgrace to say we have no right to "judge" the Thai legal system. We have every right! Individual rights are universal and inalienable. I do hope Mr. Nicolaides, when he is released, publishes his book outside Thailand and makes a bundle doing so.
Frode Odegard, San Diego, USA
this is ridiculous....where is the free speech? where is Australia coming to their countryman's defense? CNN wont even say what he wrote for fear of the Thailand laws.... and people wonder why there's so much fighting in the world.... take the criticism the year is 2009 get over it...
Brian, chicago, USA
A country with medieval juridical system doesn't deserve to have any support from nations that support freedom of speech. Why not boycott Thailand, only money is a true weapon to fight such insane behaviour.
Jean Luc, Antwerp, Belgium
The Aussie Government must act quickly and get the author released through diplomatic negotiations. The book has not been sold in millions of copies, people don't know even know what was written in those three lines. It is surely too much for the author to endure.
Vamsi, Atlanta, USA
3 years for insulting royalty in a foreign country with a reasonable chance of being pardoned? I'd say the guy got off lucky. I learned within 3 days of my 1st visit that insulting the king was an offense. And his next book will probably sell more copies -outside of Thailand...
David, Orange,
I totally agree with Matt. He should not have been so arrogant as to believe that Thai laws would not apply to him in Thailand.
Norm, Las Vegas, USA
Totally outrageous. Send him on the next plane home. He has already spent four months in jail. I'm sure he won't do it again. The really are despicable peasants.
james, Melbourne,
This is an outrage and an insult. I'm all for respecting cultural differences, but someone needs to have the audacity to stand up to laws and judgements that spit on basic human rights. What happened to freedom of speach? And three years is an insane punishment, let alone in a Thai prison.
George, Galway, Ireland
We have no right to judge the Thai legal system It may not suit us or be in accordance with the meme of European morals but they are not imposing it here. He knew the law.
Likewise, we should not accept that foreigners coming to Europe impose their will or "special needs" becasue of their culture.
matt, antibes, France
(Apologies to SamplerDoc... I didn't realize you had posted before on this topic...)
An Australian novelist was jailed for three years by a Bangkok court on Monday, the latest in a growing number of Thais and foreigners prosecuted for the crime of €œinsulting€ the family of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Harry Nicolaides, a 41-year old teacher and part time writer was convicted on the basis of a 103 word paragraph about the alleged sexual peccadilloes of the royal family, particularly Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
He could have received a sentence of as much as twelve years and his decision to reverse an earlier plea of not guilty persuaded the judge to hand down the minimum sentence possible for the crime of lèse-majesté, or insulting the monarchy...
Harry Nicolaides, a 41-year old teacher and part time writer was convicted on the basis of a 103 word paragraph about the alleged sexual peccadilloes of the royal family, particularly Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
He could have received a sentence of as much as twelve years and his decision to reverse an earlier plea of not guilty persuaded the judge to hand down the minimum sentence possible for the crime of lèse-majesté, or insulting the monarchy...
This thread is to discus the law and it's enactment and NOT the Thai Monarch...
Below are some comments from The Times website...
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Thailand's less majeste laws they do exist. Anyone involved in publishing is acutely aware of what is and isn't allowed. The author himself admitted he was aware but I cannot understand how he could have thought the laws didn't apply in his case?
Andrew, Bangkok, Thailand
It seems the government doesn't like it when their King is offended or disrespected (which is fair enough but maybe the punishment's a little harsh) but like the article states, how ironic that the King disagrees with that particular law himself. Surely Mr. Nicolaides will be released shortly.
Tom, Sydney, Australia
Have spent quite a bit of time in Thailand, and knowing the Thai people love their king, I am still quite disturbed to learn of Nicolaides fate and even the existence of such a law. For a country that lives on westerners tourism this is a foolish move. I for one will not spend another dime there.
Bob Cauley, New York, USA
He knew the law but he ignored it. He was a lecturer, He could have published his book when he left Thailand. I've been in Singapore many times, i couldn't chew a gum and i didn't because I respect the law in Singapore. learn culture before saying anything.
Pimm S., Bangkok, Thailand
Every country around the world has its own laws and customs so it's probably better to play with caution whilst in that country and not risk being arrested for anything but I hope Harry is pardoned as soon as possible. Murderers have been given lighter sentences than that. Freedom of speech rules!
Donna, Kos, Greece
"lese majeste" laws - I would recommend U.N. sanctions, that tourist groups recommend none of their clientele visit this country, IMF cut off any funding, and then the embassys request unconditional releases. Finally, these offenders need to apologize - they were impolite guests.
Jeff Dunham, Yacolt, USA
It is wrong that a Western author feels that he has the right to comment on the royal family of Thailand and to attack a system that has been in place for hundreds of years. Westerners need to step back and think before comparing their ideals to Asian ones. Nicolaides, I feel you got off lucky.
Anna, Tauranga, New Zealand
He lived in the country for 2 years...he was well aware of the lese majeste law. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand for 2 years and we were all well aware of the law and the enormous respect the Thai people have for their King within days of arriving in the country.
Jeffrey, PetoskeyUSA,
Hard to believe he did not see this coming. You simply do not bring up the monarchy at all in Thailand if you are not Thai, even in normal conversation. Any Thai can lodge a heresay complaint against you at any time, you have to be this careful.
Dan, Glendale,
There is no way that this guy could have worked in Thailand and not known how serious it is to insult the king, let alone put it in print. The king, himself, actually says he is not above criticism and will probably pardon him within a month.
Lee, Kyiv, Ukraine
Why would someone think that the laws of the land don't apply to you, when you are in that country? I feel for Nicolaides, but it was arrogant to behave as such. He could've published his book once he left the country. This is a tragedy that needn't have happened.
elisabeth, seattle, usa
It is their right to have their own laws. It is our right to cut off all financial connections they have with our countries.
Robert, Halifax, Canada
It is a disgrace to say we have no right to "judge" the Thai legal system. We have every right! Individual rights are universal and inalienable. I do hope Mr. Nicolaides, when he is released, publishes his book outside Thailand and makes a bundle doing so.
Frode Odegard, San Diego, USA
this is ridiculous....where is the free speech? where is Australia coming to their countryman's defense? CNN wont even say what he wrote for fear of the Thailand laws.... and people wonder why there's so much fighting in the world.... take the criticism the year is 2009 get over it...
Brian, chicago, USA
A country with medieval juridical system doesn't deserve to have any support from nations that support freedom of speech. Why not boycott Thailand, only money is a true weapon to fight such insane behaviour.
Jean Luc, Antwerp, Belgium
The Aussie Government must act quickly and get the author released through diplomatic negotiations. The book has not been sold in millions of copies, people don't know even know what was written in those three lines. It is surely too much for the author to endure.
Vamsi, Atlanta, USA
3 years for insulting royalty in a foreign country with a reasonable chance of being pardoned? I'd say the guy got off lucky. I learned within 3 days of my 1st visit that insulting the king was an offense. And his next book will probably sell more copies -outside of Thailand...
David, Orange,
I totally agree with Matt. He should not have been so arrogant as to believe that Thai laws would not apply to him in Thailand.
Norm, Las Vegas, USA
Totally outrageous. Send him on the next plane home. He has already spent four months in jail. I'm sure he won't do it again. The really are despicable peasants.
james, Melbourne,
This is an outrage and an insult. I'm all for respecting cultural differences, but someone needs to have the audacity to stand up to laws and judgements that spit on basic human rights. What happened to freedom of speach? And three years is an insane punishment, let alone in a Thai prison.
George, Galway, Ireland
We have no right to judge the Thai legal system It may not suit us or be in accordance with the meme of European morals but they are not imposing it here. He knew the law.
Likewise, we should not accept that foreigners coming to Europe impose their will or "special needs" becasue of their culture.
matt, antibes, France
(Apologies to SamplerDoc... I didn't realize you had posted before on this topic...)
Agree totally and read this earlier in the Bangkok post in disbelief... 
... but this guy was educated....
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