Vic: Thai official defends controversial lese majesty laws
21 Jan 2009 12:55 PM
MELBOURNE, Jan 21 AAP - A Thai official has defended strict laws against those who offend his nation's royal family, as Australian Harry Nicolaides begins a three-year sentence for the crime.
Minister counsellor at the Thai Embassy in Canberra, Saksee Phromyothi, on Wednesday said he could understand the difficulty some people had in understanding the country's lese majeste law.
Under the law it is illegal to defame, insult or threaten the King, Queen, heir apparent or regent, punishable by three to 15 years in prison.
"Usually, I am not sure about the percentage but I would say 99 per cent of foreigners convicted under this law get pardoned and then we deport them," Mr Saksee said.
Nicolaides, from Melbourne, was sentenced on Monday to six years' prison, a term which was halved because he pleaded guilty to the crime.
He was convicted after he published a fictional account of life in Thailand that included a brief reference to the sex life of an unnamed Crown Prince.
Only seven copies of the book are believed to have been sold.
Nicolaides' sentence drew anger from supporters, who claim the Thai law is outdated and infringes on free speech.
But Mr Saksee said the law was in place because under Thailand's constitution, the king was above politics and was prevented from publicly defending himself from personal attacks.
Although the king has signalled he does not personally support the lese majeste laws, the monarch was unable to change them because the law was included in the penal code by parliament, Mr Saksee said.
"This law applies to everyone - Thai citizens and foreigners, as long as they are residing in the territories of Thailand. This law doesn't apply to anyone outside Thailand," he said.
The family of Nicolaides have criticised the Australian government for not doing enough to help him.
Nicolaides must wait 30 days from his sentencing date before he is eligible to apply for a pardon from Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
