News Forum - Mentally ill Thai man sentenced to 12 years for royal defamation

[Thaiger]

A man with mental health problems has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for criticising the Thai royal family. The 29 year old man, called Punyaphat, made a number of posts on the Royalist Marketplace Facebook group questioning the popularity of the Thai royal family, and King Vajiralongkorn’s frequent trips to Germany. Siwapan Manitkul, a managing director of a local sports company, reported Punyaphat’s comments to the police, and as a consequence was charged under Section 112 of the nation’s criminal code, also known as lèse majesté laws. Siwapan is known to have reported at least 9 others for […]

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[Cranky]

Good way to maintain loyalty, love, and respect! 

[Smiler]

Everyone frightened to comment on this in case you get a knock on the door 

[ChrisS]

I get that the law is the law however outdated it might appear to western eyes but 12 years seems a bit harsh when they have acknowledged that he had mental health problems. 

[TheDirtyDurian]

He must be crazy to say what he did!

[HolyCowCm]

You can't force love and respect. 

[Donald]

Sound to me that Siwapan Manitkul will not be a very popular neighbor.

On 6/23/2022 at 1:28 PM, Cranky said:

Good way to maintain loyalty, love, and respect! 

I do hope you are being sarcastic. Just in case.

[Janneman]

In countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan they hang or stone people who insult the profet. Even if they are mentally ill. And after a fair trial of course.

Thailand is in good company.

[dbrenn]

It's easy to see from the comments here that nobody understands Thai culture. 

Respect for the monarchy and love of the country are one and the same thing. Regardless of who the monarch is, the institution is as revered as the country itself. Disrespect for either is considered treachery. 

Looking at ghastly and degenerate Western culture, where nobody has respect for anything, we can't say they're wrong.

Edited June 25, 2022 by dbrenn

[dbrenn]

10 minutes ago, Janneman said:

In countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan they hang or stone people who insult the profet. Even if they are mentally ill. And after a fair trial of course.

Thailand is in good company.

America executes people too, by the way, and supports places like Saudi Arabia. 

[Benroon]

1 hour ago, dbrenn said:

It's easy to see from the comments here that nobody understands Thai culture. 

Respect for the monarchy and love of the country are one and the same thing. Regardless of who the monarch is, the institution is as revered as the country itself. Disrespect for either is considered treachery. 

Looking at ghastly and degenerate Western culture, where nobody has respect for anything, we can't say they're wrong.

Excuses for medieval nonsense.

What’s to understand ? Is the stoning to death of women ok because it’s culture? Pushing gay people off the top of buildings ok because it’s culture (no need for you to answer that one I think we know), denying young girls an education because it’s culture ? Does that make it right or do you think culture sometimes needs an upgrade or call it evolution. 

Putting a mentally ill man in jail for 12 years for voicing his opinion isn’t wrong correct ? 

 

 

Edited June 25, 2022 by Smithydog
Disparaging member remark removed. Unnecessary for opinion.

[Janneman]

55 minutes ago, dbrenn said:

America executes people too, by the way, and supports places like Saudi Arabia. 

Certainly, but America does not prosecute and hangs people for insulting their own president.

As a matter of fact, most western countries do have laws about insulting high-ranking politicians such as presidents,  befriended heads-of-state, or the monarchy. Those laws are hardly ever used. And most definately not if someone who is mentally ill is involved.

And that is the point. A country may have laws that seem weird, or arbitrary to someone from another country. But if it's the law, it's the law. But prosecuting someone who is mentally ill, and not responsible for his deeds is wrong.

[Faraday]

Removed an off topic & provocative remark to another member.

Please be civil to one another.

Moderator