Writer jailed for alleged Thai monarchy insult
[url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28729720/[/url]
BANGKOK, Thailand - An Australian writer was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for insulting Thailand's royal family in his novel, a rare conviction of a foreigner amid a crackdown on people and Web sites deemed critical of the monarchy. Bangkok's Criminal Court sentenced Harry Nicolaides to six years behind bars but reduced the term because he had entered a guilty plea, the judge said.
Nicolaides, a 41-year-old from Melbourne, was charged with insulting Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the crown prince in his 2005 book "Verisimilitude."Passages in the book "suggested that there was abuse of royal power," the presiding judge told the court. "I would like to apologize. This can't be real. It feels like a bad dream," a tearful Nicolaides told reporters before the verdict was announced. He said he had "unqualified respect for the king of Thailand" and had not intended to insult him. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy but has severe lese majeste laws, mandating a jail term of three to 15 years for "whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent."
Public discussion of the monarchy's role was once taboo in Thailand, but has become more common amid growing concern about the eventual successor to the 81-year-old king, the world's longest-serving monarch. Bhumibol has no major official role in politics but commands immense respect from most Thais and is credited as being the nation's unifying force in times of crisis.
Spate of complaints, prosecutions
Nicolaides' case comes amid a recent spate of lese majeste complaints and prosecutions, and increased censorship of Web sites allegedly critical of the Thai monarchy. Nicolaides was arrested Aug. 31 at Bangkok's international airport as he was about to board a flight home, apparently unaware of a March arrest warrant issued in connection with his novel, according to rights groups. He was indicted in November and denied bail.
Nicolaides lived in Thailand from 2003 to 2005 and taught in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. He has described his novel as a commentary on political and social life of contemporary Thailand. 'Unspeakable suffering'
"Tell my family I am very concerned," he told reporters. He said he endured "unspeakable suffering" during his pretrial detention but did not elaborate.
Reporters Without Borders has called on authorities to drop the charges against the Australian, saying "his novel never intended to threaten or defame the royal family." The severity of Thailand's lese majeste laws was highlighted last year when a Swiss man, apparently acting in a drunken frenzy, was found guilty and given a 10-year prison sentence for defacing images of the revered monarch. It was the first conviction of a foreigner for lese majeste in at least a decade. The man was pardoned by the king after serving about a month behind bars.
New Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said last week his government would try to ensure the law is not abused. But he said the monarchy must be protected because it has "immense benefits to the country as a stabilizing force."
Tour group or guide recommendations?
Hi,
I will be in Thailand next month. I was hoping to take a tour up to see the Tiger Temple (what Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno) in the Kanchanaburi Province. Can anyone recommend a good tour group or guide that goes up there?
Thanks,
Marc
Writer Jailed for Insult to Thai Monarchy
[QUOTE=Run Mann][url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28729720/[/url]
New Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said last week his government would try to ensure the law is not abused. But he said the monarchy must be protected because it has "immense benefits to the country as a stabilizing force."[/QUOTE]. . . and 8 hours later the MSNBC link doesn't work anymore.
Herbal Products and other alternatives
[QUOTE=Jayman 05]Hi Guys,
I am hoping someone out there can help me. I enjoy the benefits of V, kamagra and the other "Pharmaceutical" brands from time to time but I find it does not react to well with me (will spare the nasty details). Is there anyone that has had good results from any of the more "natural" products. Am very skeptical of all the stuff being peddled on the Internet, and would rather hear some results from the professionals
Jayman[/QUOTE]I don't seem to have any significant side effects from Viagra, Kamagra, Cialis or Levitra (other than a stuffy nose), and I've tried several of the herbal products available, over the counter, in your local drug store or via the Internet. Unfortunately I haven't found any of them to have any effect whatsoever. They make great claims, but don't seem to deliver, at least for me. I, too, would be interested to hear if anyone has had positive results from any of the so called "natural" non-prescription products.
The prescription products mentioned above do seem to work, to varying degrees. But the best results I've found are from (if you can get over the fear of the needle) injectables such as Caverject or Edex. Caverject seems to have been unavailable for the past 6 months, or so, although I've heard that it should be available again soon. I haven't tried Edex but I have tried Trimix, which is actually not a brand name but the term used to describe a mixture of three drugs (papaverine, phentolamine and prostaglandin) which can be prepared by a "compounding pharmacy." One source is Applied Pharmacy Services ([url]www.appliedpharmacyrx.com[/url]). The Trimix available from APS is freeze dried and can be stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. The liquid form of Trimix, available from most other compounding pharmacies, must be kept refrigerated to last more than a few days.
Of course, these injectable products are a bit of a hassle to use. So I'm always on the lookout for better alternatives.
Great Guy
Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno
Get up early like 7am
Take a taxi or motocycle taxi to the Southern Bus Terminal
Pay your 109 THB or so for the bus ticket to get to Kanchanaburi
Travel 2 to 2.5 hours
Arrive at Kanchanaburi Bus Station, take #6 bus, and make sure the driver knows you want to go to the tiger temple
Arrive at a large sign with "Tiger Temple"
Walk approximately 1.5 kilometers, through some farmer's field to find the entrance to the tiger temple. Pay 500 THB "donation" to enter the Tiger Temple.
Read the large non liability sign saying that you agree by entering the temple not to hold the temple liable for any injuries sustained at the temple.
Wonder at the tigers that drink drugged milk out of a baby bottle.
Get pictures taken of yourself up close and personal with said drugged tigers.
Get offered the premium 1000 THB special photo op.
Get offered the extra, extra special "play with the baby tigers" that only 4 people at a time can attend (price undisclosed)
Hitchhike back to the bus station or find broken down structure that couldn't keep rain off of a mouse's head, and wait there for the bus back to the Kanchanaburi bus station.
Take bus from Kanachanaburi to Morchit station back in Bangkok.
[QUOTE=Member #3060]Hi,
I will be in Thailand next month. I was hoping to take a tour up to see the Tiger Temple (what Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno) in the Kanchanaburi Province. Can anyone recommend a good tour group or guide that goes up there?
Thanks,
Marc[/QUOTE]
